Inside Golf issue 96 by Inside Golf

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Issue 96 July 2013

OPEN

WIN

CHAMPIONSHIP

PREVIEW:

HOT WHEELS

The latest and greatest buggies and carts

Who will lift the Claret Jug?

BEST OF THE WEST Our favourite courses and resorts in WA

TOP TIPS

nutritional tips to stay focused during your round

Sunny days

The Queensland Sunshine Tour turns 50

on tour

We catch up with Matt Griffin and Steven Jeffress

Justin Time!

Rose captures U.S. Open

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PLANNING Is your club anti-social? AN EVENT FOR 2013? starters box

Richard Fellner Group Editor richard@insidegolf.com.au @insidegolf

Over the last year or so, there have been many course closures, sales and merger announcements throughout Australia. One by one, golf clubs and courses are breaking under enormous financial pressures and a changing mindset and lifestyle of golfers. “But surely it won’t happen to OUR club,” I can hear you whisper. For those of you whose clubs (and Boards or Committees) continue to bury their heads in the bunkers, then be warned: It can happen to you. No amount of money, history or pride will make you immune to the growing threat of a dwindling market. Across the country waiting lists are all but gone, joining fees are disappearing and high-priced subs are being slashed. The brutal, cold truth of the matter is that today’s golfers are a completely different species than in the past. They seek (nay, demand) a different offering for their golfing dollar. And most clubs are failing to give them what they want. This is precisely why more golfers are choosing to ditch their private memberships and migrate to social play. Australia’s Social Golf market is growing at an amazing rate. Clubs and groups like the RACV Golf membership, iGolf Queensland, Crown Lager Social Club and the SGA Tour operated by Social Golf Australia are all capitalising on this growing trend. Their fields are getting larger, their prizes more significant, and the camaraderie stronger than ever. So what, exactly do today’s golfers want? Variety: Variety is the spice of life. In golf, this can mean different challenges, layouts and experiences. Social golf groups play a variety of spectacular courses every week/fortnight/month. A Club golfer, on the other hand, has only one (maybe two) courses. And

yet most Clubs refuse to overhaul their current reciprocal arrangements. In my opinion, more clubs should band together to create “Super Clubs” where their golfers can pay one annual fee, and have open access to multiple courses in their area. Flexibility: Today’s golfer demands options around when they play. They likely cannot play every weekend due to family, work, etc. A social group allows them to pick and choose when they play, at a time that is convenient. Club golfers, however, usually must choose only a six or seven-day membership —with no options like, say, one-day, three-day, twilight or credit-based arrangement. Value: Social Groups often have little or no joining fee, can offer official handicaps, and a “pay when you play” ability. If a golfer cannot play one week, then they don’t have to pay. A club golfer, on the other hand, pays their subs whether they play golf or not. The maths are simple: if subs are, say $2400 per year, and a golfer can only find time to play once a month, then they are in essence paying $200 per round of golf. Is your course truly worth $200 for 18 holes? Before you answer that, be aware that social groups are playing some of Australia’s very best courses for a lot less. When you look at it, most private clubs simply cannot compete. So how can clubs bend (and not break) in this environment? Firstly, it’s important to welcome these social clubs to your course. They

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www.insidegolf.com.au Publisher: Outdoor Sports Publishing Pty Ltd ACN 113 836 301 ABN 30 043 104 919 PO BOX 437, Miami, QLD 4220

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are today’s largest possible “potential membership pool” and offer a much better long-term value to your course than, say a corporate group (which is often composed of once-a-year golfers, etc), or a course value-destroying Scoopon-type deal. Secondly : Take care of them regarding group pricing. One social group told me recently that a certain course—of which this social group has brought significant business over many years—was suddenly offering a Scoopon-type deal to the general public that was significantly below the rate at which the social group had been paying for years. The real shocker to me was that the club wouldn’t offer the social group a competitive rate anywhere near their Scoopon rate. As a result, the social group took their 70+ players to another course. And with them went thousands of dollars in potential green fees and food & beverage sales, not to mention 70+ potential new members. In essence, the course was thumbing their nose at a loyal social group in favour of selling deeply discounted green fees to total strangers who, by and large, have more loyalty to a Scoopon site than they do the course itself (the vast majority of these discount-shoppers will never join a course, but will instead “follow the deal” from course to course.) In the process, the course de-valued itself to a point where the average golfer would baulk at ever paying the original/ normal fee. Finally—and most importantly— don’t simply ignore the growing social golf market. These players could very well be the difference between your club posting an “Open for Business” sign or a “For Sale” sign. •

WHETHER FOR CORPORATE OR SOCIAL GOLF WE HAVE A GOLF PACKAGE TO SUIT.

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CORPORATE GOLF EVENTS Perfectly situated, central to both Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Links Hope Island sets the standard in professionally organised corporate golf events, offering one of Australia’s finest resort courses with excellent practice facilities and world class clubhouse. Speak to our experienced and friendly Events Team to assist with tailoring the perfect package for your next corporate golf event.

SOCIAL CLUB PACKAGES Links Hope Island Golf Club welcomes Social Clubs to experience our championship golf course. Speak to our Events Team to assist with arranging a package which best suits your requirements.

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Contact our Golf Events Department today. Corporate Golf I Social Packages I Special Events Please phone 07 5530 9014 or email events@linkshopeisland.com.au

Cover photos: OneAsia, USGA It’s official: 43,145 Inside Golf Magazines distributed each month for the period: October 2012 – March 2013

Distributed to golf clubs, social golf clubs, driving ranges and retailers Australia wide every month

www.linkshopeisland.com.au www.insidegolf.com.au | July 2013

news

Scotty to headline Aussie summer of golf US MASTERS champion Adam Scott has confirmed that he will return to Australia this summer to compete in Australia’s “Big 3” golf tournaments: Australian PGA Championship, Australian Masters and the Australian Open. Scott will play his first tournament of the Australian summer of golf at home on the Gold Coast when he contends the Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola from 7-10 November. Scott will headline the RACV Royal Pines field when the tournament returns to the Gold Coast for the first time since 1975. “To be able to play at home at Royal Pines is going to be a lot of fun. All my friends and family will be out there so it’s going to be an exciting way to start,” said Scott. “The PGA is an amazing event – the history of winners there is Australia’s finest and I’d certainly like to put my name on that trophy.” With tournament planning now well underway, the PGA of Australia says it intends to launch a number of new initiatives in the coming months with Adam’s new wardrobe addition, the green jacket, at front of mind. “The significance of Adam’s victory is immense and we’re very excited to welcome him home to the Gold Coast,” said PGA CEO Brian Thorburn. “To have Adam contend our Championship for its return to the Gold Coast is a wonderful opportunity, and we’re sure the fans will come out in their thousands to congratulate Scotty.” The following week, November 14-17, Scott will tee it up at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club to defend his Australian Masters title, hoping to be just the second player in the 35-year history of the event to successfully defend the title, following in the footsteps of Greg Norman. “I’m excited to be returning to Melbourne to defend my Australian Masters title at Royal Melbourne, one of my favourite courses. I’ve always had fantastic support in Melbourne, and I’m sure this year’s event will be bigger and better than ever,” Scott said. The Premier of Victoria, Dr Denis Napthine, welcomed the announcement. “The Victorian Government is delighted that Adam Scott will be defending his title at this year’s Australian Masters. Adam’s victory at Augusta

National ranks undoubtedly as one of Australia’s greatest sporting achievements, and we welcome sports fans from across Victoria and around the world to visit Melbourne to watch Adam compete on another iconic golf course, Royal Melbourne,” said Dr Napthine. Vice President-Director of Golf, IMG Australia, David Rollo, said, “We are indebted to the Victorian Government for their continued support of the Australian Masters. Equally we are thrilled Adam is able to return to defend his title at Royal Melbourne Golf Club as The Masters Champion. “His achievements will inspire the next generation of boys and girls and we will continue to provide complimentary access for children under the age of 16 when

accompanied by an adult ticket holder.” To cap off a great summer series, Scott will then tee it up at the Emirates Australian Open at Royal Sydney Golf Club from November 28-december 1. “Adam’s extraordinary achievement at Augusta National was one of the greatest moments in Australian sport,” said Golf Australia CEO Stephen Pitt. “We’re thrilled to have Adam playing the Emirates Australian Open where fans will be able to congratulate him on the victory and watch him compete for Australian golf’s most important title,” Pitt said. “We are also very pleased that the Emirates Australian Open will again be broadcast on Seven Network TV and we know they will again do a terrific job of covering the championship.”•

Aussie Summer of Golf Date October 17-20

Event Perth International Australian PGA Championship November 7-10 presented by Coca-Cola November 14-17 Australian Masters November 21-24 World Cup of Golf November 28-Dec 1 Emirates Australian Open

Course Lake Karrinyup Country Club, Perth

State WA

RACV Royal Pines, Gold Coast

QLD

Royal Melbourne Golf Club, Melbourne VIC Royal Melbourne Golf Club, Melbourne VIC Royal Sydney Golf Club, Sydney NSW

Golf to the fore on Seven The Seven Network and IMG last month announced a multi-year broadcast partnership for the Australian Masters and Perth International over the next three years. “We are delighted to be extending our commitment to golf,” said Head of Sport for the Seven Network, Saul Shtein. “Seven was the home of the Australian Masters for over twenty years through the height of the Greg Norman era. On the back of Adam Scott’s historic and memorable victory at Augusta in April it marks another exciting time for Australian golf and we look forward to broadcasting the event across Australia. “ We are also delighted to be broadcasting the Perth International given our strong links with the people of Western Australia through Channel Seven Perth and The West Australian.” David Rollo, Vice President-Director of Golf, IMG Australia added: “Seven has a rich history of broadcasting world-class sporting events and we could not be more delighted to enter into this long-term partnership to showcase the Australian Masters and Perth International. Both events will attract 20 hours of live national coverage which will deliver a great outcome for our valued partners and all Australian golf fans.” The Perth International is Australia’s richest annual golf tournament with prize money of US$2M and the only event to be co-sanctioned with the European Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia. After a successful inaugural event in 2012, this year’s event will return to the picturesque Lake Karrinyup Country Club from 17-20 October with American star Bo Van Pelt confirmed to defend the title he won last year. •

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July 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

news

Justin time: Rose captures US Open Championship England’s Justin Rose captured his first Major championship in dramatic fashion last month, grabbing the coveted US Open title at Merion Golf Club. Trailing third-round leader Phil Mickelson by two shots going into round 4, Rose made the most of every opportunity on the final day, scoring five critical birdies, plus a make-or-break clutch fairwaywood-chip to two-inches on the 72nd hole to secure a tournament-saving par. A final-round 70 (+1 for the week) was enough for victory, as player after player fell away in the final holes of the brutal Merion layout. With the victory, Rose became the first Englishman to win the US Open in 43 years, following Tony Jacklin’s victory in 1970. “I’ve been striving my whole life really to win a major championship,” Rose said. “This is the pinnacle of the game, winning major championships, and to win the United States Open Championship is, I guess in a way, very fitting of how my game has been the last couple of years.” For Mickelson, it would be a day of missed opportunities, as putt after putt stubbornly grazed the hole throughout the round. Double-bogeys on the third and fifth holes threatened to derail his hopes of claiming his long-sought-after US Open victory. A chip-in for eagle on 10, however, breathed new life into Lefty’s round (as well as the fans), and dramatically vaulted him back into the lead. But it was not to be for Mickelson, as bogeys on 13, 15 and 18 sealed his fate, handing him his sixth US Open runner-up finish, closing the tournament T2 with Aussie Jason Day on +3. “It [Merion] gave me chances to make birdies. I didn’t really make any, but there were opportunity after opportunity, after you get by the 6th hole. And even the 6th hole, I had a great look at it,” said Mickelson. “This [loss] is probably the toughest for me, because at 43 and coming so close five times, it

Justin Rose: In his TaylorMade Bag

R1 Driver (Matrix 6m3) RBZ Stage 2 Tour HL 16.5 3-wood (Matrix 7m3) RocketBladez Tour irons (3-6, KBS C-TAPER) Tour Preferred MB irons (7-PW, KBS C-TAPER) ATV wedges 52, 56, 60 (Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400) Spider Blade putter (37”) with counterbalance grip LETHAL Golf Ball

SCOREBOARD Pos Ctry Player

Justin Rose was the “last man standing” at a brutal Merion Golf Club (Photo: USGA) would have changed way I look at this tournament altogether and the way I would have looked at my record. Except I just keep feeling heartbreak.” For Day, too, it was an agonising round of missed chances. A birdie on the 10th hole put the Queenslander right in contention, but bogeys on the 11th, 14th and 18th saw his chances slip away. Nevertheless, it didn’t dampen the young Aussie’s spirit. “I feel that my game is in a really good spot right now,” said Day. “I’m doing the right things. The little things that count. I’ve been close so many times now in Majors, especially at a young age, which is nice. I’ve got plenty of Majors to play in and hopefully I can keep doing the same as I’m doing, and hopefully win one soon.” Of the other Aussies, comeback-kid Mat Goggin got Australia’s hopes up early in the tournament, mounting an early charge with an impressive 68 in round one, propelling himself to an early T2

Tot R1 R2 R3 R4 TOT

Justin Rose

1 71 69 71 70 281

Jason Day

3 70 74 68 71 283

Phil Mickelson

3 67 72 70 74 283

Jason Dufner

5 74 71 73 67 285

Ernie Els

5 71 72 73 69 285

Billy Horschel

5 72 67 72 74 285

position. John Senden was also well-placed at Hunter Mahan 5 T4 T6 with a respectable score of 70 on day one. But Australia/New Zealand Results wild weather combined with an extremely difficult course setup saw both players slowly fall out of T15 John Senden 9 contention during the weekend. Mathew Goggin 11 T21 Pre-tournament favourites Adam Scott, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and defending champion Geoff Ogilvy 13 T32 Webb Simpson never really got things going during the week, all finishing well down the Steve Alker 15 T45 leaderboard, while a resurgent Ernie Els showed Adam Scott 15 T45 that he is still a force to be reckoned with, managing a respectable T4 at +5. Alistair Presnell 23 T67 The real ‘victor’ of the event, however, would Aaron Baddeley 9 CUT surely be Merion Golf Club, as it simply demolished and humiliated the best players in the world, as Marcus Fraser 12 CUT not a single player finished under par. With wristwrenching rough, tight pinWe placements some walkand courses for Marc Leishman 13 CUT very tricky greens, Merion has assumed its rightful data. ground-verified Michael place among the US Open’s most punishing CUT 14 Campbell courses. •

More Accuracy

72 69 69 75 285

70 71 74 74 289 68 74 76 73 291 74 70 77 72 293 73 75 75 72 295 72 75 73 75 295 73 75 76 79 303 75 74

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152

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153

76 78

154

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www.insidegolf.com.au | July 2013

news

Samoa to host rising stars, legends

Construction abandoned at St Andrews Beach Private CONSTRUCTION work at the St Andrews Beach Private Golf Club on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula has officially been abandoned, reports Australian Golf Course Superintendents’ Association digital newsletter, The Cut. “Former AGCSA environmental agronomist John Geary has this week confirmed that work on the new St Andrews Private Golf Club development on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula has officially ceased. “Geary, who departed the AGCSA late last year to become the project’s construction superintendent, finished up at the site last week and says that all equipment and infrastructure is set to be sold off.” While no official comment was available prior to deadline, there is speculation that funding for the project was heavily reliant upon membership sales, which were not coming in as quickly as the developers had hoped. The St Andrews Private development was being sold as an exclusive private members club with memberships reportedly starting at around $99,000. •

Dodt deals a pair of aces

Queensland’s Andrew Dodt became the first player in European Tour history to record two holes-in-one in the same round. It’s a feat so rare that it’s only happened once in PGA Tour history (by Yusaku Miyazato at the 2006 RenoTahoe Open.) During the second round of the Nordea Masters in Stockholm, Sweden, Dodt’s Titleist 2013 Pro V1x golf ball found the bottom of the cup on the 175-yard 11th hole, before repeating the same feat on the 208-yard seventh hole (he played the back-nine first). The odds of getting two aces in a single round: One in 67 million. •

PERHAPS better known for its rugby, Samoa will this month host the SIFA Samoan Open at Royal Samoa Country Club as part of an exciting new alliance between the E-Z-GO Legends Tour and the Choice Hotels PGA Pro-Am Series. According to NSW/ACT PGA executive officer David Barker, it’s a great opportunity for golf in the South Pacific. “We are once again very excited to support the Samoan Open and the continued development of the game in the region and we expect the event will once again exceed expectations,” he said. “Furthermore, we are delighted to have the Legends Tour players join the South Pacific swing this year.” Both events will contribute to the Choice Hotels PGA Pro-Am Series and the E-Z-GO Legends Series. Scheduled for July 3-6, the Open Tour professionals will compete for a prize purse of $50,000 while the Legends Tour professionals will compete for $30,000. Former Open champions, include defending champion, Terry Pilkadaris and Peter Wilson are expected to play and will be joined by young stars such as Dimi Papadatos and Lincoln Tighe. Both recently captured victories on the Choice Hotels PGA Pro-Am Series. “I have never been to Samoa but many of the players have spoken very highly of the tournament and the experience,” Papadatos, 22, said. Another first time visitor will be Lincoln Tighe, who is gaining a reputation as one of Australia’s biggest hitters and a star of the future.

Terry Pilkadaris. INSET: Lincoln Tighe Following a breakthrough victory in the 2013 Coca-Cola Morobe Open, the 23-year-old backed up at the Papua New Guinea Open to finish two shots adrift of winner Peter Zwart from New Zealand. “I’m looking forward to playing in Samoa,” he said. Competing in the Legends event will be current Order of Merit leader Tim Elliot, who already has experienced unparalleled success this season. The Victorian was one shot away from four successive first place finishes on the New Zealand swing of events.

The incredible stretch included outright victory at the NZ PGA Senior Championship and success at the Rebel Sport-Media Works Pro-Am. Situated just outside the vibrant city of Apia, Royal Samoa boasts beautiful mountain and coastal vistas and tropical terrain demanding accuracy from the tee. It has featured as one of the best tropical courses in the world. The Choice Hotels PGA Pro-Am Series will visit the tropical paradise locations of Tahiti and Vanuatu later this year before the NSW/ ACT season wraps up in Sydney. •

Schweppes Tee it Up club? ur yo om fr r o d a s s a b m a

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or a chance f au t. ne s. pe ep w ch .s w w w at Entrants simply enter perclinic in their state. Su Up it e Te s pe ep hw Sc e th to attend For more information on how to get involved

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news Start spreading the news!

Australia’s most read golf publication, Inside Golf, is calling on golf clubs across Australia to start sharing any club news, events or interesting tidbits with our community of readers. We want to help you and other clubs to get the word out about what’s happening at your club. All stories are welcome—large or small. Whether you’ve got a renovation in the works, are hosting a pro-am or charity day, have an up-and-coming junior star in the making, a life member who has broken their age, or even just a single paragraph about a recent hole-in-one, send it in to us. No story is too small! If you’ve ever noticed that some clubs seem to get a lot of editorial coverage in Inside Golf, it’s simply because they email us regularly with updates. It’s that easy. You can do it too. So if you’d like to gain extra exposure for your club, simply drop an email to Richard Fellner at: ed@insidegolf.com.au. Photographs are always welcome, but please only send High-resolution, print-quality photos (i.e. straight from a digital camera, no editing or cropping). Thanks...and we’ll see you in the news! •

Felton turns back club clock WHO needs the latest technology when the good, old-fashioned persimmon clubs can do the job? West Australian Kim Felton certainly doesn’t, after finishing in joint first place in the Greenline John Deere Pro-Am at Harvey Golf Club, Western Australia. Felton threw out the fancy metal-headed driver and sleek fairway metal and replaced them with a persimmon driver and three-wood. They worked a treat as he fired a 67 to join Jason Scrivener in the winner’s circle. Touring professional Felton has been working with former Australian Masters champion Brad Hughes, who suggested the switch to the ancient clubs. Apparently, Hughes is a big believer in practising with the heavier, old-fashioned models. Now Felton has a dilemma – does he keep the persimmon woods in the bag or go back to the latest in club design? •

Golfers go the bash

Kevin Marques

Marques wins Malaysian Amateur Kevin Marques made birdies in the last two holes to hold off Thailand’s Poom Saksansin to win the Malaysian Amateur Open title at the Royal Pahang Golf Club in Kuantan. Marques fought out a tight tussle with Saksansin and fellow Queenslander Taylor MacDonald for most of the round. 23-year-old Marques took advantage of MacDonald’s triple bogey on the 13th to move into the lead to eventually end with a threeunder par 68. It was enough for Marques to finish a stroke clear of Saksansin, who completed his round earlier to top the leaderboard on nine-under 275 after a tournament best of six-under 65. MacDonald, the top-ranked player in the field, bounced back strongly with a closing eagle to salvage a one-under 70, to take third place on 276.

That put him one stroke ahead of India’s Karan Taunk who finished the day with an impressive 67. The quartet of Thailand’s Chanachok Dejpiratanamongkol (71), Udayan Mane of India (69), Indonesian Syukrizal (69) and Taiwan’s Chieh Po-lee (72) were five strokes adrift in joint fifth. In the absence of Gavin Kyle Green, who did not return home to defend the title due to his commitment with his studies in United States, Abel Tam (72) finished as the leading Malaysian this year with a four-day total of one-under 283. He shared the ninth spot alongside Singaporean duo Edgar Oh (71) and Jerome Ng (72). Kevin Marques has this year been awarded a Srixon Scholarship. He will be returning overseas in August to compete in the Singapore Amateur. •

The golfing fraternity will unite again to raise much needed funds for children by supporting The Bash, a cross-country event through outback South Australia. The Bash has become a very popular and successful National and State-based event in Australia. It commenced in 1985 when Dick Smith took a group of friends for a drive he called ‘The Bourke to Burketown Bash’. Bashing today has not changed from its original concept. It began in SA in 1989 and has seen bashers travel through much of our beautiful country. Car ‘TORO’ which is a 1937 Buick Century with a straight-8, has raised close to $500,000 in the past 10 years. The SA Bash takes off on August 10 for 8 days of antics and much needed charity for Children. Donations can be made direct to Variety via email finance@varietysa.org.au •

Keep up with us online! Catch the latest golf news online: www.insidegolf.com.au. Join our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/insidegolf, keep up to the minute with our Twitter feed (@InsideGolf ). Feedback? Drop us a line at ed@insidegolf.com.au

www.insidegolf.com.au | July 2013

news

Twin Towns Open beckons amateurs

AMATEUR golfers wanting for a good test of golf should look no further than the 54-hole Twin Towns Open at Coolangatta Tweeds Head Golf Club from August 3-4. To u r n a m e n t p r o m o t e r a n d Coolangatta Tweed Heads GC board member Andrew Boulter said anyone with ambitions of winning the 60th Twin Towns Open would have to turn up with their A-grade game. “Course superintendent Peter Lonergan has instructions to set the course up as tough as possible,” he said. One of the reasons is the Queensland men’s and junior teams have entered and need the challenge. It’s a great opportunity, says Boulter, for all amateur golfers to test their skills against the best players on the challenging West Course, which boasts bent grass greens. The winner will bank $750, but there are prizes galore in other categories. “It’s an open event with a senior and junior component,” Boulter said. “There will be a Twin Towns junior champion, an open champion and a senior champion.” There will be 54-hole trophies and prizes for the gross winner and runner-up and nett winner and runner-up. The players will play 18 holes on day one and 36 holes on the final day. The Twin Towns Open has a rich and proud history and past winners include Greg Norman (1974), Scott Gardiner (1999) and Steven Bowditch (2000). Boulter said he expected a field of 120 players. Download an entr y form from www.mitournament.com – follow the links to Twin Towns Open. More information at www.cooltweedgolf.com.au •

Jeffress captures Dysart Pro-Am

Jacinta Foley (right) with fellow Townsville Golf club members Julie Laslett, Julia Bruniera and Jenny Henderson. INSET: Bee on ball.

Jacinta’s pain in the neck WAS it her attractive looks, perfume or just coincidence? Recently Jacinta Foley, a Townsville Golf Club member, attracted flying insects with a sting in the tail at the Queensland’s Women’s Country Week at Mt Coolum Golf Club. She was on the second hole when she felt a sharp sting to the back of the neck. The 12-marker knew she’d been stung but didn’t realise what it was until she reached the third tee and discovered a dead bee on her golf bag. Fortunately, match referee Johnny Morrison was hovering around and applied ice and “magic gel”. “John was marvellous,” Jacinta said. “It’s people like him that make golf such a wonderful sport. He went and got ice and medicated gel and reapplied it a few holes later and kept an eye on me all day.” Asked how it affected her game, Jacinta said: “I would like to tell you it was sensational but it was anything but. I am blaming it on the bee.” Still, that wasn’t the end of the story.

Chase the Sun

With a bee in her bonnet, next day Jacinta ventured out to Tewantin-Noosa Golf Club and, after teeing off, arrived to find a bee had settled on her golf ball. Quick as a flash, she whipped out her camera and snapped the inquisitive bee. “I couldn’t believe I had attracted two bees two days in a row,” she said. “The girls I was playing with said they were attracted to my perfume. “Country Week is a fantastic event and I thoroughly enjoyed the tournament despite my average golf performance,” Jacinta said. Namesake and Coolangatta Tweed Heads member Samantha Foley (no relation) won the event by 19 shots from Josie Ryan (Headland). “I would like to claim Samantha as a relative, but she’s not,” Jacinta said. “She played the most beautiful golf and to win by such a big margin was phenomenal. “The girls that played with Samantha said she was a joy to play with and all credit to her and her dad (Paul) for a great attitude.” More than 400 players contested the event. •

Inside Golf ’s own Steven Jeffress has added his name to a long list of illustrious champions taking out the 35th Anniversary of the BMA Dysart Pro-Am. After an opening round 66 Jeffress would never relinquish his lead following it up by respective rounds of 70 and 65 for a three round total of 15-under-par. Despite starting the day one behind Jeffress and closing with a seven-underpar round of 65, Asian Tour player Adam Blyth could only manage second place, in an effort to record his first victory on the Qld Sunshine Tour since 2008. Aaron Pike was looking to become the first professional to win three consecutive Dysart Pro-Ams after victories in 2011 and 2012, though he came up just short finishing in outright third on 11-under, while Matthew Ballard finished a further three shots behind in fourth. “It is great to add my name to an honour role that reads Wayne Grady, Peter Senior and John Senden, players that I have been lucky enough to play alongside for a number of years,” Jeffress said. “The Dysart Pro-Am is always one of my favourites to play and with the course this year being in exceptional condition I knew it was going to be tough to pull off a win. It is a wonderful feeling to win here,” Jeffress said. The Dysart Pro-Am is the longestrunning Pro -Am played on the Queensland Sunshine Tour, running only marginally longer than that of the Howeston Pro-Am in Brisbane’s eastern suburbs. The event forms part of the Choice Hotels PGA Pro-Am Series. Previous champions at Dysart have included John Senden and Peter Senior, though this year’s event was highlighted with the addition of the 1982 Dysart ProAm champion Wayne Grady. •

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July 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

news

OneAsia adds Tour Championship event to 2013 schedule

Blind golfer Graham Coulton with caddie Sue Carpenter

Coulton wins Blind Golf Australian Stableford Championship Blind Golfer Graham Coulton has captured the 2013 Blind Golf Australian Stableford Championships, played over 36 holes at the Adelaide Shores Golf Club in May. Coulton (B2 – handicap 40) along with caddie Sue Carpenter, scored a handy 34 points on the first day and stormed home with an amazing 45 points on the second day to narrowly defeat the fast-finishing Sean Witting (B2 – handicap 23) by two points. Incidentally, on the second day, Sean shot an 84 off the stick, which included a penalty stroke, to score 47 points. Nineteen players entered the tournament with entrants coming from NSW, QLD, SA and VIC. Blind golf has 3 sight categories; B1, B2 and B3 depending on the player’s vision capabilities. B1 players are totally blind. For more information about blind golf visit w w w.blindgolf.com.au or www.internationalblindgolf.com •

Swimming champion Duncan Armstrong was the ‘Carnivale Ring Leader’ for Links Hope Island’s celebrations. INSET: Fire twirlers added to the spectacle.

Links Hope Island celebrates 20th anniversary Links Hope Island celebrated a major milestone last month when more than 200 people gathered to mark the 20th anniversary of the golf club. The extravagant Carnivale themed night attracted residents of Hope Island Resort, golf club members and even the original course designer. The celebration started when ‘Carnivale Ring Leader’, former Swimming Champion, Duncan Armstrong, opened the event after a special performance by fire twirlers. Guests were then entertained by a String Quartet, fireworks and a number of speeches

including an address by Links Hope Island Course Designer, Mike Wolveridge. The event was a huge success with one guest winning a Trip for Two to Mission Hills in China proudly supported by China Golf Tourism and Pavilions. “Links Hope Island proudly showcased how far the golf club has come over the last 20 years,” said General Manager Mark Holland. “I t was great to see some of our oldest members enjoying the night and very entertaining to hear some of the stories from the early days from Mike Wolveridge.” •

OneAsia will add a US $2 million Tour Championship-style event to its calendar as the circuit marks a fif th year of operation with an expanded schedule for the second half of 2013. The new event will take place December 5-8 at Mission Hills in Shenzhen, and comes as a result of OneAsia’s relationship with the China Golf Association (CGA), one of the tour’s founding partners alongside the PGA of Australia, the Korea Golf Association and the Korea Golf Tour. Announcing the schedule for the rest of the year, OneAsia Commissioner and Chairman Sang Y. Chun said the tour had become a valuable member of the global golfing community and was living up to its mission of providing lucrative playing opportunities for the Asia-Pacific’s best golfers. “The OneAsia Tour Championship will be a fitting conclusion to what is already turning out to be a thrilling season,” Chun said. “Last year any one of four players could have won the Order of Merit title by winning the final event of the season in Australia. It will be even more exciting to go down to the wire at a traditional Tour Championship in China.” All OneAsia’s events carry a minimum purse of around US $1 million, and the prize fund for 2013 totals nearly $15 million. •

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news FROM THE CEO

Brian Thorburn CEO – PGA of Australia

If you or someone you know has ever considered a career in golf, now is the time to take a closer look at the PGA’s Trainee Program. At this time each year the PGA opens applications for the following year’s intake, and this year we expect in excess of 150 applicants to consider a career with the PGA. The job outcomes for graduates of the PGA Trainee Program are incredibly diverse. Our Members can be found working in all areas of the international golf industry, from traditional club-based roles business

Stephen Pitt CEO – Golf Australia

As I write this, Jason Day has narrowly missed out on the US Open crown, finishing second at that championship for the second time in his career. At just 25, Jason continues to perform exceptionally well at the Majors and a win will come his way soon enough. What a first six months of the year it’s been for Australian golf – Adam’s victory at Augusta, Karrie Webb’s 39th LPGA Tour win and Jason’s performance at the U.S Open. It’s great to see the Aussies winning tournaments.

July 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

owners and coaches to positions in club management and game development. In addition, all PGA Members have lifetime access to significant professional golf tournament opportunities. PGA Membership opens up many doors for a career in golf, and pleasingly our graduate employment rates are well above average for the training sector. PGA Trainees work alongside fully qualified PGA Members and receive practical work experience and on-the-job training at approved golf facilities around the country. In addition to developing real skills for the golf-industry, PGA Trainees also receive nationally accredited qualifications in a variety of vocational disciplines. Anyone interested in finding out more about our Trainee Program should visit the Trainee section of our website or email academy@pga.org.au. Applications for

the 2014 intake close on August 31st 2013. At a club level the Choice Hotels PGA Pro-Am Series continues to take off around Australia with events focused in the eastern states in the next few months. Pro-am golf continues to be the lifeblood for many Australian Professional golfers looking to take the next step onto international tours, and we sincerely thank all the clubs, volunteers and sponsors for the role they play in developing our playing ranks and contributing to the growth of our game. Likewise, the E-Z-GO PGA Legends Tour is making its way around Australia, so check out the schedules on the PGA website and don’t miss out on the opportunity to play alongside some of the biggest names and characters in Australian golf’s recent history. •

There was anecdotal evidence in the days following Adam’s win of more people visiting golf clubs and booking in to play rounds of golf and our data shows that April delivered the highest number of competition rounds played in any month over the 2012-2013 financial year. With that in mind we’re thrilled that Adam has committed to play the PGA, Masters and Emirates Australian Open at the end of the year which will give a huge number of fans the chance to watch him compete and the opportunity to congratulate him on winning Australia’s first Green Jacket. With the hype following Adam’s win, it’s also great news that all Australians will be able to experience the summer golf action – whether they can be at the course or not.

Last month Channel 7 confirmed it will now broadcast both the Perth International and Australian Masters in addition to the Emirates Australian Open in November. The Australian PGA Championship will be broadcast on Network 10, ensuring all major Australian tournaments will be live on freeto-air TV. It’s great news for the wider promotion of the sport to young and new players and for all those golf and sport fans around Australia who want to watch the action. There are lots of reasons to be excited about the coming summer of Australian golf and if you can come along, buy a ticket and be part of the action. Let’s hope this year of Australian success maintains its momentum in the second half of the year. •

Middle Ridge generates $28,450 for charity

Last month the Middle Ridge Golf Club was the focal point of this year’s first major “Give Me 5 For Kids” fund-raising event designed to raise much-needed funds for the local children’s ward at the Toowoomba Hospital. The day attracted 22 teams (88 players) from all types of local businesses wanting to be a part of the inaugural Charity Golf Day. In addition to the golf, sponsors were treated to platters of gourmet food, refreshments sponsored by a variety of beverage providers and even a putting competition, which was won by Liam Betts. This was followed by a monster multi-draw raffle with some fantastic prizes offered. To add a few more dollars to the kitty, Peter Rookas and Lee Faulkner conducted an auction of a wide variety of items from another group of supportive sponsors. After all events were tallied, the total money raised was a whopping $28,445 – the largest single event-generated donation to date. Winners on the day were the team from T J Swim (Troy Chandler, Steve Oster, Kelvin Gould & Marv Whittaker), runners up were Andrew Stone, Darren Buller, Craig Cumerford and Steve Douglas representing one of two Coca Cola Amatil teams, third place went to the Alpine Refrigeration team of Ivan Walls, Pat Hopkins, Bob Charlish and Peter Prince. “We’re already planning next year’s event and given the success of this one, we know that it will be hard to beat,” said Toowoomba Golf Club General Manager Steve Owen. “Our objective is raise as much as we can whilst ensuring that our sponsors receive great value and thoroughly enjoy themselves in the process.” •

industry

Club back from the dead Coca-Cola Challenge heats up

David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

THWACK, thwack, thwack! That’s the sound of golf balls once again being launched into orbit over Karana Downs golf course near Ipswich in southeast Queensland. The golf course had been at the centre of a three-year battle between the residentrun Karana Downs Community Lifestyle Protection Group (KDCLPG) and developer Karana Waters, which lost an appeal to turn the 38ha site into a housing estate. So, more than 18 months after closing, the sounds of golfers on the fairways has returned. Clubhouse renovations are complete and the chatter of golfers again fills the air with stories of birdie putts, booming drives and missed opportunities. Owner Brett Lawton said 180 golfers attended the June 8 opening day and more than 100 players had joined the club. In the past five months, Lawton has invested $1m on clubhouse renovations, course improvements, golf carts and equipment. “Golfers can expect a decent standard golf course,” he said. “The course has been around for 30 years and we just had to clean it up again. “We don’t have dreams of hosting any major events or anything extravagant. “We are a suburban course and we have to look after the regulars and the locals, who want to play some golf and have fun.”

A golfer tees off at Karana Downs golf course. KDCLPG spokesperson Sue Cardy said the community group was delighted to see the golf course open for play. “We couldn’t have hoped for a better outcome,” she said. “The developer was going to carve up the land into what we considered to be small lot housing and that was our objection. Over 50 per cent was going to be 400sq/m blocks. “A large proportion of our community is overjoyed that Brett Lawton is back in the business,” Cardy said. When Karana Downs closed its doors in 2011, the clubhouse and golf course became derelict. “There was three-foot high grass everywhere

and was an overgrown snake pit, but it’s starting to look fantastic again,” Cardy said. Since February, course superintendent Trevor Weinert has worked overtime to bring the course, which backs on to the Brisbane River, back to life and it appears he is winning the battle. When the course closed, the only sounds coming from the golf course were that of kookaburra laughter and other bird trills. Now the residents of this tight-knit community, too, are laughing following their win over the proposed housing development. Thwack! A golfer curses a wayward drive and a kookaburra “laughs”. Welcome back to Karana Downs. •

After a hot start to the year, the professionals have continued their intense battle to become crowned champion of 2013 Coca-Cola Challenges. Throughout the QLD Sunshine Tour Season, all Pro Ams that are staged at courses which are exclusive stockist of Coca-Cola products, one hole will be selected as the official ‘CocaCola Challenge Hole’ with each professional’s score on this hole being recorded. There will be 20 holes played throughout the year, with the professional with the lowest aggregate score relative to par being declared the winner. Each professional must play a minimum of 15 holes throughout the year to be eligible. The winner of the Coca-Cola Challenge will win a $5,000 contribution to funding the cost of attending a Tour Qualifying School of their choice anywhere around the world. Following the Dysart Pro Am, the bunched leaderboard after four holes looks like this: Pos Name Score 1st Matthew Ballard -3 T2nd Gavin Flint -2 T2nd Jared Pender -2 T2nd Leighton James -2 T2nd Richard Wright -2 T2nd Sam Eaves -2 T2nd Troy Ropiha -2 A total of 18 players at -1 A full list of the tournaments and rounds involved in the 2013 Coca-Cola Challenge as well as the further details on the initiative can be found by going to www.pga.org.au/proam •

Upcoming Holden Scramble Events MIXED EVENTS NSW Manly Golf Club NSW Moruya Golf Club NSW The Vintage Golf Club NSW Muswellbrook GC NSW Riverside Oaks GC NSW Bermagui CC NSW Liverpool Golf Club NSW Branxton Golf Club NSW Vincentia Golf Club NSW Bega Country Club NSW Hurstville Golf Course NSW Goulburn Golf Club NSW Longyard Golf Club NSW Wentworth Golf Club NSW Temora Golf Club NSW Warringah Golf Club NSW The Links Shell Cove NT Palmerston Golf Club

07-Jul-13 07-Jul-13 08-Jul-13 03-Jul-13 14-Jul-13 14-Jul-13 19-Jul-13 21-Jul-13 25-Jul-13 28-Jul-13 29-Jul-13 04-Aug-13 04-Aug-13 04-Aug-13 04-Aug-13 06-Aug-13 06-Aug-13 28-Jul-13

QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD

Moranbah Golf Club 06-Jul-13 Glenden Golf Club 06-Jul-13 Burrum District GC 07-Jul-13 Palmer Sea Reef 07-Jul-13 Riverlakes GC 11-Jul-13 Twin Waters Golf Club 13-Jul-13 Sandgate Golf Club 14-Jul-13 Biggenden Golf Club 14-Jul-13 Logan City Golf Course 17-Jul-13 Cairns Golf Club 21-Jul-13 Town Of 1770 GC 21-Jul-13 Palmer Coolum Resort 26-Jul-13 Ipswich Golf Club 27-Jul-13 Laidley Golf Club 28-Jul-13 Mt Isa Golf Club 28-Jul-13 El Arish Golf Club 03-Aug-13 Capricorn Resort 04-Aug-13 Rowes Bay GC 04-Aug-13

QLD Tenterfield GC

04-Aug-13

SA TAS VIC VIC VIC VIC VIC VIC WA WA WA WA WA WA WA

Berri Golf Club Devonport Golf Club Melbourne Airport GC Thurgoona CC Resort Lonsdale Golf Club Bairnsdale Golf Club Eagle Ridge Golf Club Bendigo Golf Club Geraldton Golf Club Kalbarri Golf Club Karratha Country Club Northam Golf Club Kalgoorlie Golf Course Busselton Golf Club Spalding Park GC

21-Jul-13 04-Aug-13 13-Jul-13 20-Jul-13 21-Jul-13 29-Jul-13 02-Aug-13 04-Aug-13 14-Jul-13 20-Jul-13 20-Jul-13 24-Jul-13 28-Jul-13 04-Aug-13 04-Aug-13

* These are the Open Holden Scramble Event dates currently listed for July & the first week of August. For further event dates please check the Holden Scramble website

WOMEN’S EVENTS NSW Hurstville Golf Course 08-Jul-13 NSW Shortland Waters GC 09-Jul-13 NSW Muswellbrook Golf Club 17-Jul-13 NSW Warringah Golf Club 05-Aug-13 QLD Mt Warren Park GC 12-Jul-13 QLD Toogoolawah Golf Club 14-Jul-13 QLD Laidley Golf Club 24-Jul-13 QLD Riverlakes Golf Course 11-Jul-13 QLD Paradise Palms CC 17-Jul-13 QLD Mullumbimby Golf Club 25-Jul-13 TAS Devonport Golf Club 02-Aug-13 WA The Cut Golf Club 02-Jul-13

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industry

Victorian Golf Industry unites in celebration The Victorian Golf Industry came together last month to celebrate the contributions of many outstanding individuals to the sport. Representatives from the PGA of Australia, Golf Victoria and Golf Management Victoria gathered at the MCG to witness a number of new inductees to the Victorian Golf Industry Hall of Fame including three time Australian Open champion Ossie Pickworth, PGA Professional Brian Twite OAM, Susie Tolhurst, Harry Williams, Gladys Hay, The Hon Michael Scott, Eveline McKenzie, Joan Fisher, Mick Ryan, Nellie Gatehouse, Margaret Masters, David Graham and Kevin Hartley. “It really is a fantastic evening for all the major stakeholders within Victorian golf to come together to recognise some outstanding achievements and accomplishments of individuals and clubs. Congratulations to all those that were recognised throughout the night,” said Simon Brookhouse CEO of Golf Victoria. The evening celebrated the collaboration of the Victorian Golf Industry highlighted by SuHyun Oh taking out the Female Amateur of the Year as well as her coach and PGA Professional Matt Cleverdon who claimed the Victorian Teaching Professional of the Year. Winning the Male Amateur of the Year was Nathan Holman who’s achievements in 2012 were numerous but highlighted by his Master of the Amateurs title, qualifying for the Scottish and US Amateur tournaments as well as finishing runner-up at the PGA Tour of Australasia’s Victorian Open Championship early in 2013. Also recognised on the evening was Phillip Island Golf Club’s PGA Professional Marcus Liberman who was honoured to be awarded the Bruce Green Victorian Club Professional

Some of the PGA Trainee graduates who were honoured last month of the Year title for his work at the Phillip Island Golf Club. The Victorian Golf Operations Professional of the Year was awarded to PGA Professional Garry Burness from the Heritage Golf and Country Club. Whilst running a 36 hole venue with 1200 members (turning over AU$2.1 million with more than 55,000 rounds played annually), Burness found the time to drive social media for the club and was instrumental in staging the inaugural Lexus of Blackburn Heritage Classic tournament sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia. Also recognising the playing prowess of those in the Victorian Golf community, Tour Professional Leighton Lyle was presented with the 2011/2012 Victorian Order of Merit. A newcomer to Professional golf Kym Olsen claimed the 2012 Victorian E-Z-GO PGA Legends Tour Order of Merit as well as the, Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year. Olsen achieved the clean sweep of awards by

winning 13 Legends tournaments, which is also a Tour record. The evening also saw the induction of 13 Trainee graduates as Full Members of the PGA of Australia, however it was Quinton Howe who took the top honours as the Victorian PGA Trainee of the Year. Howe, who completed his Traineeship at Kew Golf Club, performed outstandingly in his academics and also won the two major Trainee tournaments held in Victoria; the Coca-Cola Rich River Trainee Classic and CPM Southern Trainee Championship. Howe is also the 2012 Golf Digest Trainee of the Year. Not to be out done, second year Trainee Jack Wilson of Kingswood Golf Club was awarded the National Trainee of the Year and attended the evening after arriving home from Tocumwal Golf Club where he won the 2013 CPM Southern Trainee Championship. “The Victorian Golf Industry is diverse and complex and relies on many individuals

working together to ensure golf thrives in our great sporting state,” said David Tapping, Executive Officer of the Southern Division of the PGA of Australia. “Through these awards we recognise the achievements of many individuals and I would like to congratulate and thank them for their efforts. It is because of these individuals and many others across the state that we continue to achieve success and I look forward to another outstanding year in 2013.” All other Victorian Golf Industry Award winners on the night included: • PGA Trainee Pro-Am of the Year – Mansfield Golf Club • 2012/2013 PGA Pro-Am of the Year with an open prizepurse – Penfold Motors Box Hill Pro-Am • 2012/2013 PGA Pro-Am of the Year with a prize purse of $10,000–$20,000 – Rosebud Country Club Pro-Am • 2012/2013 PGA Victorian Pro-Am Course of the Year – Yarra Yarra Golf Club • 2012/2013 PGA Victorian Regional Pro-Am of the Year – Barwon Cleaning Supplies Portarlington Golf Club Pro-Am • 2012/2013 PGA Victorian Regional Pro-Am Course of the Year – Portarlington Golf Club • Melbourne Metropolitan Area Volunteer – Individual Men’s Award – Bruce Harding • Melbourne Metropolitan Area Volunteer – Individual Women’s Award – Jan Jelleff • Country Area Volunteer – Individual Men’s Award – Howard McClelland • Melbourne Country Area Volunteer – Individual Women’s Award – Glenda Clarke • Victorian E-Z-GO PGA Legends Tour Pro-Am of the Year – The National Legends Charity Pro-Am •

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industry news

GMA to bring a touch of Augusta to Australia

Jim James

David Allen

Most golf club general managers can only dream about going to Augusta National, let alone holding the top job at the game’s cathedral. And while we realise it’s not as good as being there, GMA is bringing a touch of Augusta to the GMA National Conference 2013. Jim James, Senior Director of Club and Hospitality Operations and the man who has been in charge of the beautiful Georgian clubhouse at Augusta National for almost 20 years, has agreed to be the opening keynote speaker in Sydney in September. And it has all come about because of the persuasive powers of GMA president, David Burton who floated the idea in a brief meeting with Jim at the CMAA Conference in the USA in February this year. “I spoke with Jim at a Club Managers Association of America (CMAA) Fundraising event in San Diego in February,” Burton explains.“Paul Hinton and I found ourselves chatting with Jim and Tom DeLozier, GM of Quail Hollow, over a red wine during this cocktail function. “Jim indicated that a trip to Australia was of great interest to him and following an exchange of emails afterwards, I planted the question on Jim if he would like to be a part of our GMA conference. In Jim’s typical diplomatic and gentlemanly nature, he pleasantly thanked me for the opportunity and indicated that he would

need the green light from both his Board and more importantly, his wife. And here we are. “With his vast experience and wonderful style, it is a great pleasure to have him with us and he has already indicated his excitement at attending and speaking.” Jim’s esteemed hospitality career spans almost 30 years. For the past eighteen years he has served the membership and staff at the Augusta National Golf Club where he is Senior Director, Club and Hospitality Operations. Prior to Augusta National, Jim served as Manager at the prestigious Gulf Stream Golf Club in Gulf Stream, FL. Jim has served on numerous national committees for the CMAA and currently serves on the Club Foundation Board of Directors. He has also been asked to speak at numerous local, national and international meetings of CMAA. Home to the Masters©, Augusta National Golf Club features a championship golf course, par-three course, historic clubhouse complex with three dining rooms, one hundred room lodging facility, three locker rooms and one of the largest wine collections in the country. Jim is responsible for all member facilities and club services including food and beverage, golf operations, lodging, transportation, administration, capital and operational management. His responsibility also includes implementation and oversight of all quality standards and service goals throughout the property. Jim is passionate about training and mentoring; in his role he creates and oversees all training to support this truly unique service culture. Under Jim’s leadership, Augusta National serves one of the most discerning memberships in the country

and consistently strives to be regarded as one of the finest service organisations in the world. During the Masters©, Jim is responsible for administering all member, sponsor and player services. This includes member and player dining, sponsor hospitality, tournament parties, transportation and other support services. Jim is also accountable for the world-renowned Masters©, concessions operation. In 2013 the club introduced Berckmans Place to their patrons, this world-class hospitality facility is considered by many to be the finest of its kind in all of sport. The club handles all food and beverage during tournament week, serving tens of thousands of meals each day, supported by over 2,500 dedicated culinarians and service professionals. The title of Jim’s presentation for the GMA Conference will be “Driving Excellence” and it will cover many of the philosophies, training methods and standards that have been implemented at Augusta National and the Masters to ensure that they are exceeding their members’, guests’ and players’ expectations. Naturally, Jim will also focus on the aura of the Masters; the preparations required to have Augusta at its peak every year; the sentiment of Adam Scott and his success as being the first Australian to don the green jacket and the past champions who have made this event so memorable. Apart from Jim’s keynote address on Monday 2nd September, a special breakfast will be convened for Wednesday 4th September entitled “Open Mike - Breakfast with Jim”where delegates will be welcome to participate in a Q&A session with Jim fielding and responding to all questions. The attendance of Jim James at the Conference will be a once-in-alifetime experience for delegates and the information he will provide will enable all in attendance to go back to their clubs with more information on how the best do what they do to be the best. The theme for this year’s conference is “Bridging the Gap”. All clubs are facing a multitude of challenges and threats and this conference program will provide attendees with the opportunity to enhance knowledge in a range of areas which will assist in ‘bridging the gap’ between what they have and what they need to survive in an industry that has become extremely competitive. The GMA National Conference 2013 will be held at The Four Seasons Hotel, Sydney from Sunday 1st to Thursday 5th September. More than 200 golf club managers from around Australia and overseas are expected to be in attendance to witness what will be an outstanding learning and networking experience. More information can be found at www.gma.org.au • www.insidegolf.com.au | July 2013

industry

Home on the range New high-tech facility in Melbourne gives golfers the total package for game improvement Richard Fellner ed@insidegolf.com.au

A brand - new prac tice facilit y in Melbourne‘s east is ticking all the boxes for golfers looking to improve their game. Opened in May, the new Kingston Links Driving Range & Improvement Centre in Rowville marks an important step in the rejuvenation of the Kingston Links facility. Dubbed “The People’s Course” for its friendly staff and welcoming attitude, Kingston Links can now boast one of the top driving ranges in Melbourne; one that is setting the benchmark for future Australian driving ranges. Featuring a 40-bay, undercover, floodlit range, excellent short-game practice area and a cutting-edge multifunction learning centre, the facility is a one-stop-shop for golfers of all levels. “When we set about to design this facility, it all came down to one question: What does the golfer want?” explains Paul Benbow, AAA Professional at Kingston Links. “The answer: they want to improve, regardless of age or skill level. So we set about making a facility that is firstly comfortable and inviting, but secondly we want to make them feel like they are on the course.” One of the key features to that end is the strategic placing of target greens and bunkers on the range. These give golfers something to aim for when they practice; thus encouraging them to think about each shot in an on-the-course scenario. “One of the problems that golfers always face is, you go to a range, and you’re just whacking balls. You’re not thinking,” says Benbow. “But here, no matter where you are on the range, you have specific targets and markers, and you have to think about the shot, use the right club. Just like when

you’re on the course. You can practise hitting an approach shot to a well-guarded green from a variety of distances, using a variety of clubs. And with the curved layout of the range, they can practise controlled fades or draws to specific targets. This brings the learning into play.” Every aspect of the carefully-designed facility serves an important purpose. The top-quality practice mats, for example, include high visibility alignment lines, a key instructional and practise tool. “When a practise mat is blank, the golfer can feel a bit unguided,” says Benbow. “But with these lines, it helps the player to check their alignment, and it helps their instructor to teach them about lining up, where the body should be, where to pivot, the arc of the swing, etc., and that has been received hugely by the patrons that come in. They love it.” Another clever feature is the strategic placement of full-length mirrors behind many of the bays, which allows a golfer to check their form during the backswing, etc. In addition, golfers are surrounded by giant banners adorning the facility, featuring some of the world’s best golfers like Tiger, Rory, Phil and Ernie. More than just “window dressing”, these help golfers to visualise their own swings in a way that emulates the world’s best. It also helps for inspiration. “We wanted to make it feel like a Hall of Fame area, like famous sporting arenas like the MCG and Lord’s,” says Benbow. “We wanted golfers to be excited about coming here to hit balls, with images of the world’s best players around them.” For golfers wanting to work on their chipping and putting, there is a great short game area with a quality putting green, a massive bunker to work on those tough upand-downs, and other sections to work on different short game shots.

With 40 covered, floodlit bays, the new driving range at Kingston links ticks all the boxes. Inset: Greens and bunkers in the range give golfers specific targets to aim for.

The indoor/outdoor Multifunction room offers the best of both worlds for instruction and clubfitting

The short-game area is perfect for working on those troublesome bunker shots and chips.

If a golfer needs assistance or instruction to improve even further, then they can turn to Benbow and his state-of-the-art Multifunction Room – an impressive “Indoor/Outdoor” simulator/training bay. This Multifunction Room is truly unique, as it not only allows a golfer to experience all the clubfitting/instruction benefits of an indoor golf simulator (complete with sophisticated launch monitor and computer-based swing statistics, virtual rounds at world-class courses, etc) but it also allows, with a simple slide of the giant bay doors, a golfer to hit outside to the range, and see the actual flight of a ball in real-world conditions. This represents the best of both worlds for clubfitting and instruction.

The prices at Kingston Links Driving Range & Improvement Centre are very reasonable for a facility of this quality, with a bucket of 35 balls just $7; 70 balls for $10 and 105 balls only $13. The short game area is $5 for 30 minutes, with a limit on the number of players at any one time (to ensure it never gets overcrowded, and to give players a comfortable environment.) Overall, we were very impressed with the new facility, and we highly recommend you check it out. Kingston Links is located at 14 Corporate Avenue, Rowville. Hours: M-F 9am – 9pm, Weekends: 8am-8pm. www.kingstonlinks.com.au. •

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July 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

• •

• • • • • • • • •

industry

Ballarat on leading edge of golf technology

Some of Australia’s leading names like Senior, Grady, Baker Finch, Pampling and Senden all started their professional careers on the QLD Sunshine Tour and as a Rookie, they were always looking for that ‘leg up’. With a vision to provide such assistance, this year’s Platinum Partner Program Rookie of Year Award are once again offering an all expenses paid trip to the 2013 Australasian PGA Tour Qualifying School including Flights, Accommodation and their Tournament Entry Fee. After the Glenden Pro -Am the leaderboard for the Platinum Partner Program Rookie of the Year Award looks like this:

Henry Peters

ed@insidegolf.com.au @hsspeters

Ballarat Golf Club’s head professional Dominic Azzopardi is revolutionizing golf tuition in Victoria. In an Australian first, he has installed a golf technology centre in the club’s pro shop, which utilizes tracking technology from European company MIA Sports Technology. “I was the first one in Australia to have MIA Sports install one and I think many others are on the way,” Azzopardi says. Inside Golf featured this groundbreaking technology last month when we visited Northern Golf Club in Melbourne, another early adopter of an MIA Sports installation. (Visit our website to read our review). We were highly impressed with the technology, and we believe that more courses will follow the lead of Ballarat and Northern in bringing high-tech tuition to their members. With innovative indoor technology at his fingertips, Azzopardi is now incorporating the system fully into his teaching. He says the days of watching a pupil pound golf balls on the driving range are a thing of the past. “I use the Flightscope a lot for teaching, not just club fitting because it gives exact data. In a video lesson, you can see if your plane is outside the line but this actually shows to a decimal place. I think over the next five to ten years that if most pro shops are serious about doing anything, they’re going to have to do it.” The indoor tech centre, which Azzopardi originally installed to avoid teaching in the harsh Ballarat winter, has not only boosted his client list but attracted members to the club. With the only other competing tech centres in the state located about 90 minutes away in

Pos 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

Melbourne, golfers from across the Central Highlands, Goldfields and Ballarat districts are gravitating to Ballarat Golf Club. “I was probably doing 10 to 15 lessons a week, now I think I’ve doubled that. I also do a lot of things like club distancing. A lot of people don’t know how far they hit clubs so I get them in for 45 minutes and they hit shots with each club.” Azzopardi says his expenses associated with fitting out the tech centre were close to $40,000. Additional costs to create the space were covered by the Ballarat Golf Club. A major drawcard of the technology centre is its positioning in the club’s pro shop. “Everyone that walks into the shop sees it. If I put it over on the range, for everyone to see it, they’ve got to sort of have a lesson or go over there.”

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Platinum Partner Program Rookie of the Year

Ballarat Golf Club can now lay claim as one of regional Victoria’s premier golf clubs. Its Thomson and Perrett-designed championship course was overhauled between 2006 and 2009 and Azzopardi says it will soon be among country Victoria’s best layouts. Ballarat’s clubhouse has also developed into a prominent social space for the city, hosting close to 45 weddings annually. “The course is getting better and better all the time and that’s certainly going to help boost numbers of players and player rounds. The courses along the Murray River, Murray Downs, Rich River, Yarrawonga, I think we’re probably not quite to their standard yet but I think that’s only because the course is about four years old. Give it another five years and it certainly should be on a par with those courses.” •

Professional Lincoln Tighe Jonathon Holder Dimitrios Papadatos Matthew Perry Ryan McCarthy

State NSW QLD NSW NZ TAS

Points 62 47 44 43 42

(Points will be awarded by giving the Lowest score 10 points and then one point is then deducted for each stroke above the lowest score. Eg: Lowest Score 65 = 10 points; Next score 70 = 5 points, 71 = 4 points, 72 = 3 points, 74 = 1 point. Tied scores receive the same number of points and are allocated for each round of a multi-round tournament.) The Platinum Partner Program is a business partnership between Robbie Bennetts Enterprises and technology company onPlatinum with each company bringing immense knowledge, skills and experience in their respective fields of financial services and technology Program. More information head to www.pga.org.au •

industry

116-year-old club closes David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

HOW does a golf club that boasted an annual turnover of $20 million less than a decade ago go into administration and finally close? Many are asking that question after Ipswich Golf Club, 40 kilometres west of Brisbane, closed after 116 years. Rumours had been circulating for some time the club was in financial difficulty and those rumours came to fruition on Friday, June 14 when the administrator, PA Lucas and Co, ordered the closure and locks to the clubhouse and pro shop changed. A check of the golf club’s website told the story. “Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond the club’s control, Ipswich Golf Club is now closed for business – both golfing and social activities. We thank everyone for their patronage over the past 116 years.” It appears the proud old club will be liquidated, however, Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale told the Ipswich Times the historic golf course would not be developed. “Anyone wanting to turn it into a residential development can forget it,” he said. “It’s a golf course and it is going to stay a golf course.” Ipswich Golf Club’s 26 staff lost their jobs. It seems two devastating floods in two years proved too much for the historical club and it went into voluntary administration in early May. “We can’t control floods or the weather,” president Paul Morris said. “We have done everything we can.” Founded in 1897 by a group of local residents, Ipswich Golf Club has endured a financial rollercoaster ride over the past three decades.

THE END: Southeast Queensland’s Ipswich golf course has shut up shop. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the club’s biggest income came from bar sales. According to the club’s website, the introduction of poker machines turned the club’s fortunes around. In 1993, it made an operating profit for the first time in seven years and by 2007 reported an annual turnover of $20m. “The biggest change in the golf club’s history occurred on April 29, 1992 – the pokies arrived,” the website said. “At the start of 1992, the club had 814 members. It was popular and successful, but the costs of maintaining a quality 18-hole course were high and it made a $19,295 operating loss for the year, largely due to costs associated with the drought. It also had a significant capital debt. “The pokies changed all of this. The most noticeable immediate change, apart from the

MeN’s full set

sudden presence of a row of machines, was an increase in staff. “Then the number of members started to rocket. “From 814 (members) in 1991, membership rose to 1020 in 1992, 1850 in 1993, 3305 in 1994, 4558 in 1995 and 4977 in 1996. “The increase was mainly in social membership with people coming to the club simply to enjoy its facilities including excellent food – 1500 meals served every week. “The management team is now running a big business with an annual turnover of $20 million,” it continued. “Most of this money is returned to customers through the poker machines, now numbering 82, but there is still a cash turnover of about $5 million a year. “There are about 30 permanent staff and about 50 part-time and casual staff – the annual wages

bill strengthening the local economy.” In 2006, Ipswich underwent a $20m upgrade as part of a residential development and course redesign. They included land for 200 residential lots and land for a new-look golf course designed by Wayne Grady. “This course is the home of the Queensland Open and it is important that the club takes this step to maintain its membership and competitiveness in the face of increasing competition,” Grady said in November 2005. Then-club president Ken Delany said: “Our golf membership is ageing and so are our facilities and for the golf club to survive another 100 years we had to take a visionary approach. “It is important not only for the club to survive but to prosper.” That was then. Now the administrator has called for expressions of interest for the club. Its assets include club freehold ownership of golf course land and buildings, 58 electronic gaming machines, large clubhouse facilities including bistro and catering and function rooms. The closure of the course was a sad day for the club’s 400 members. Still as Alexander Graham Bell, the man credited with inventing the first practical telephone, said: “When one door closes, another door opens.” A week prior to Ipswich GC closing nearby Karana Downs GC reopened after 18 months. That must be good news for the 100-plus former Karana Downs members who joined Ipswich in 2011. Now they can return to their old stomping ground where membership costs $40 a month and they have access to two courses – Karana Downs and Sandy Gallop. •

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www.insidegolf.com.au | July 2013

industry

Top teaching pro keeps it simple David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

THE decision to drop out of university and pursue a career in golf has paid dividends for Matt Cleverdon after he was named Victorian Teaching Professional of the Year. “I was studying commerce management majoring in sports management at Ballarat University and dropped out because I wanted to go down the golf path,” he said. “I was working in a golf shop in Geelong, playing pennant and my golf got better in a short period. I was around golf and pros and decided a traineeship was a good way to go. “I have a great passion for the game and it’s been fantastic.” Cleverdon was delighted when he won the award. “It was a great honour to win the award especially being from a great private club like Kingston Heath.” The 30-year-old has been coaching for eight years and is building a reputation as a top teaching professional. One of his students, Su-Hyun Oh, took out the Female Amateur of the Year Award. Oh, who finished runner-up to Karrie Webb as last year’s Australian Ladies Masters, is the world number two-ranked amateur behind Kiwi sensation Lydia Ko.

Matt Cleverdon (left) receives the Victorian Teaching Professional of the Year Award from Royal Melbourne Golf Club’s Bruce Green. – Photograph courtesy of Happy Medium Photo. Cleverdon also teaches US LPGA Tour rookie Breanna Elliott. He predicts both his protégés will have successful golf careers. “They will be top-50 players in the world in the next five years – no question about that,” he said. “Both are great ball-strikers, but they are particularly great precision iron players. “When you look at the greatest players of all time they are all phenomenal iron players. Some have been good drivers and some good putters, but they have all been great

iron players.” Asked what makes a good teaching professional Cleverdon said: “Willingness to continue to learn and good communication skills. “I have been lucky I have been able to go to America and spend time with teaching professionals like Jim McLean, David Leadbetter and Butch Harmon. “They keep things really simple and are able to communicate really well. “I would like to be known as someone who keeps it simple and

communicates the message well. That is what I strive to do in every lesson.” There is no magic secret to teaching golf, according to Cleverdon. “I went there (US) with expectations that they (Leadbetter, McLean and Harmon) were teaching some sort of magic secret, but they are teaching simple stuff – real base fundamentals. “They are not getting caught up in technique. “Everyone is different so you have to be able to communicate with people from different walks of life and with different skills by keeping it simple.” According to Cleverdon, the biggest mistake he sees club golfers make is trying to make the game harder than it is. “They look for complex answers to a simple problem,” he said. “They apply too much logic and not enough physics. “They are trying to help the ball up when it needs to be hit down and trying to go left when it needs to go right. “Amateurs understand it when you explain it to them, but when you are logically trying to think out a problem it doesn’t quite work out in golf. “Getting results is important, but sometimes coaches can talk too much about what they know rather than just conveying the message.” •

Juniors to tee it up at Schweppes ‘Superclinic’ After a successful inaugural year of the Schweppes Tee it Up Program in 2012, Schweppes will be expanding its Junior Golf Program by conducting a ‘Superclinic’ in Vic, NSW, Qld, SA & WA. The Superclinic will allow 100 kids in each state to attend a 1 hour golf lesson, with the chance to be selected to become a Tee it Up Ambassador at the 2013 Australian Masters or Perth International. To enter for the chance to attend the Superclinic, kids will be required to answer in 10 words or less ‘why do you love golf?’ “After receiving great feedback from clubs and parents about the 2012 Schweppes Tee it Up program, we felt there was a need to grow the program by getting golf clubs from other states involved. We look forward to seeing the next generation of Australian golfers grow from Schweppes partnered courses through the Schweppes Tee it Up program,” said Simon Ellul, National Golf Manager at Schweppes Australia. For more information on how your club can get involved in the Schweppes Tee it Up program, please speak with your Schweppes Golf Manager. •

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industry

Managing WA’s Meadow Springs David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

SCOTT Proctor has been at the helm of Meadow Springs Golf and Country Club for five years and his hospitality background, hard work, common sense and a hands-on approach is working wonders. Originally from Victoria, Scott landed in Western Australia in the summer of 1999-2000 to take on a hospitality role at Joondalup Resort and worked his way up to country club manager. “I worked in hospitality – hotels and restaurants mostly before moving to Joondalup Resort,” he said. “After around eight years I moved to Meadow Springs Golf and Country Club, which is owned by the same group. The 40-year-old is a keen golfer (he started playing at age 10) and currently plays off a handicap of 13, however, due to work and family commitments, he considers himself an “infrequent golfer”. “It seems the more you work in golf the less you tend to play,” he said. As the club operates a resort-style operation with a mix of members, public and corporate traffic, the constant stream of different people is one of the aspects of the job Scott enjoys. He is clearly a people person and, along with his team at the club, goes out of his way to make the club’s 300 members and visitors feel welcome. “One of the things I like about my job is getting to know the members and talking to people,” he said. He describes his management style as “handson, open and friendly”. “I try to keep everyone happy and my door is

Scott Proctor is hands-on when it comes to managing Meadow Springs Golf and Country Club. always open for people who want to have their two bobs worth,” he added. “We are not trying to re-invent the wheel, just keep it simple by providing the best product combined with the best service possible. We have a strong team of staff, which makes life so much easier. “While we have 300 members, we also push the public side of the business through corporate and social golf. “It is difficult to maintain steady income throughout the year so diversity through the three categories of golfers, coupled with function centre revenue streams such as conferences and weddings is critical.

“You have to try to strike a balance and make sure the members’ privileges are not compromised in the pursuit of the dollar. “You have to create new business opportunities, but also make sure you don’t devalue your club,” he said. “If you bastardise the golf course membership numbers will suffer. “If you run the club in a manner the members don’t like then you are not going to have members so you have to be sensitive to their needs. “The biggest challenge is balancing the needs of the business and providing good products for the members and patrons.” Scott is well aware the membership needs to grow and his focus is to grow the membership

by 200 within the next couple of years. Like most golf club managers, Scott happily puts in extra hours to ensure the smooth running of the club. If there is a downside to the job, it is the demands on time. “I do it because I enjoy it, but I have a young family and sometimes the demands on time make it hard for family life,” he said. Asked what the advantages of being a member of Meadow Springs were Scott said: “The product. The outstanding layout and condition of the golf course is its greatest asset – always has been and probably always will be. “We are lucky to have an outstanding course superintendent and team of ground staff. “First and foremost, the business is about the golf course, which is fantastic.” Near Mandurah, 60-odd kilometres south of Perth, the Robert Trent Jones II-designed golf course is a parkland-style course. It gives a stern test for all level of golfers although by today’s standards it is not overly long at 6189 metres, but a well-thought-out layout and firm fast greens means managing your way around the course will give you the best opportunity to score well. The natural bushland makes for an interesting backdrop and provides much of the character of the holes as they make their way through it. There is plenty of space for each hole to be an individual entity with trees and bushes providing natural borders. Away from the rigors of work, Scott enjoys spending time with his family and brushing up on his knowledge of local hospitality and wines. He says he enjoys West Australian wines, but has a particular fondness for South Australian reds. I’ll drink to that. •

www.insidegolf.com.au | July 2013

industry

The new dimensions to golf membership marketing Mike Orloff

mike@golfindustrycentral.com.au

When was the last time you had one of those “lightbulb” moments? You know, when you get the sudden realisation on some topic and go “WOW! I get it now or I see it in a new way?” My most recent “lightbulb” moment was last month while facilitating the Annual National Participation Forum organised by Golf Australia. The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) was presenting on a few different subjects and one of their topics- Market Segmentation- really got me thinking and reviewing a better way of marketing to members and golfers at our clubs. “Market Segmentation involves dividing a market into groups of people/consumers with similar needs, attitudes and behaviours.” Industry wide we typically only have ever segmented our members primarily by gender and in some cases by age. We haven’t really taken into consideration other elements of members such as Stage in life, wants/needs, attitude, and behaviour. These elements can be very different and are ever changing throughout our entire life. What was important for me as a young adult will not be the same when I’m married or retired. What is important for a female may be have the same importance as a male, etc. We haven’t had the technical know-how to dig this deep into our market groups and tend to market our clubs to really a relatively small cross-section of our potential market. We also don’t have a diverse enough range of products or the facilities to attract many of the other segmentations needed to grow our membership base. The ASC research recently conducted has blown

July 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

this narrow mindedness wide open and over the coming years I think we’ll start focusing more on getting to know our members much better than we currently do. The ASC recently commissioned a ‘needs-based consumer centric market segmentation’ model for Australian sports participants (players) and nonsports participants (non-players). The following is an excerpt from the report which outlines what they have found. “Australians are becoming increasingly timepoor and, for many, more restricted in terms of budget. Changing lifestyles and competing forms of entertainment have created an increasingly complex landscape, making it difficult to understand the changing attitudes and behaviours of Australians in relation to sport. Furthermore, past research has shown that sport preferences have changed over the last ten years with an increased uptake in sport being played in a non-organised environment, versus a stagnation of participation in organised sport. The ASC research developed two Market Segmentation models; one for Adults (aged 14 to 65 years) and one for Children (aged five to 13 years). The purpose of the Market Segmentation Study for both Adults and Children was to uncover, explore, identify and clearly articulate the different motivations, attitudes, needs and barriers that influence people’s decisions and behaviours in relation to sport and, in particular, participation in club-based sport. The study is designed to help clubs understand the market and more effectively target their approaches to particular segments. In line with the changing consumer preferences, both Market Segmentation Studies identified that sports will need to adapt their offerings if they are to stay relevant to the Australian consumer.

Segments

The Market Segmentation Study provides key insights regarding how participation in sport among the Australian adult population (aged 14-65 years) is affected by: • Sport delivery that focuses on competition rather than fun and enjoyment • A lack of flexibility around the scheduling of sport in traditional sporting clubs • Organising individuals and teams according to talent rather than retaining friendship groups • Limited opportunities for people with limited sports competency to join sporting clubs • Self-consciousness amongst adolescents and embarrassment by their lack of sporting ability. • The Study identifies ten consumer segments among the Australian adult population: • Current club member segments — Loyalists, Socially Engaged, Sport Driven and Apathetic Clubbers • Non-club member segments — Sidelined Sportsters, Club Wary, Ponderers, Self Focused, Sport Indifferent and Sport Atheists.

participation. These insights and other statistical data can be used to inform the development of targeted sports delivery strategies (both products and services), to either retain or attract new participation. They do this by enabling sports to take a look at their current product and service offerings and assess whether they are meeting the needs of the various consumer segments. It also considers whether modifications to existing or new offerings would retain current or attract new consumer segments. In addition, the research sized each of the ten segments; for example, how large or how many adults fall within each segment across the total Australian adult population. Most importantly, by understanding the relative size of each segment sports are able to determine where the greatest potential for retention or acquisition may exist and therefore how to invest their efforts.”

In summary

How can golf use the market segmentation?

If we get to know more about the people we want to market to, we can devise new, more specific, strategies and products to attract them and more importantly retain them longer. Source and further details available www.ausport.gov.au •

Both studies identified a significant number of Australians who view and engage with sport quite differently, particularly in terms of how they want to play sport. This research provides insight to the needs and wants of the Australian consumer as it relates to sport participation and more specifically club-based

Mike Orloff specialises in providing golf operations and marketing solutions for all levels of golf facilities and businesses with the major outcomes being in growing revenue and the bottom-line for your facility. www.golfindustrycentral.com.au

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Muirfield to test world’s best Garrett Johnston ed@insidegolf.com.au

The Open Championship returns to historic Muirfield this month for the first time since Ernie Els’ triumph on a late Sunday afternoon in 2002 following a rain and windstorm of immense proportions only the day before. Located in the East of Scotland, Muirfield is a meaningful Open Championship venue for many reasons. It was built in 1891 by the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, the oldest organised golf club in the game. Muirfield was designed in a distinct way by the legendary Old Tom Morris and its initial Open Championship in 1892 was the first tournament staged over 72 holes. In its more recent history, Muirfield was the scene of Jack Nicklaus’ first Open Championship victory in 1966. That

Photo courtesy of Muirfield

year he won by a single stroke over Dave Thomas and Doug Sanders. In 1972 Nicklaus had the extraordinary opportunity of attempting to win the third leg of the calendar grand slam at Muirfield. His charge came agonizingly close as Nicklaus posted the clubhouse lead that Sunday before Lee Trevino finished one stroke better to end the former’s quest for glory. Thirty years later in ’02 Tiger Woods, at arguably the height of his best golf after winning seven of eleven majors, faced that same golden opportunity to notch the third leg of the slam at Muirfield. Trailing by two going into Saturday, Woods faced the teeth of a remarkable wind and rain storm that sent his chances at glory into the nearby North Sea with a career-worst 81. However Woods’ indomitable will to compete resurfaced immediately when he closed with a 5-under par 66 in his final round to finish six shots out of the four-man playoff between Thomas Levet, Steve Elkington, Stuart Appleby, and the eventual champion Els. The defending ‘champion golfer of the year’ has the unique opportunity to make a double defense this year as the winner of the last Open Championship held at Muirfield as well as last year’s championship at Royal Lytham and St. Annes. “It’s going to be great,” Els said of his double defense. “I can’t wait for it. It’s one of those really special deals. To get an opportunity to do that, not too many guys have had that opportunity.” The two-time Open champion, who also lost in a playoff in ’04 at Royal Troon to Todd Hamilton, has a strong sentiment toward Muirfield. “It’s going to be a really special week,” Els said. “It’s also one of my favorite links courses.” Els finished in a tie for fifth place at his other Open Championship appearance at Muirfield in

1992. So he will take a strong record indeed to this year’s championship. Last year’s Open Championship may ultimately be remembered for the player who lost it as it will be for Els winning it. Australian Adam Scott, who is now the decorated US Masters champion, agonizingly let the claret jug slip through his grasp by bogeying the final four holes at Royal Lytham only a year ago. However, Scott does embrace the mentality and challenges of taking on links golf. “I love it,” Scott said. “It’s a tough adjustment because we don’t play it enough. I wish I had more than two weeks or a week to do it. I think if I went to Scotland (for two months straight) and played just links golf I’d be a big favourite.” He’ll be a favourite regardless as his form has continued strongly since Augusta with top twenties in the Players Championship in May and the Memorial in July at Jack Nicklaus’ Muirfield Village, which hosts this year’s President’s Cup. Scott missed the cut in ’02 at Muirfield by only one shot but is relishing his chance to get back to a course that he seems to appreciate nonetheless. “I just remember a great golf course,” Scott told Inside Golf. “I’m excited to go back and play. I thought it was such a fantastic course.” Muirfield is a course that also is endearing to ’09 Open champion Stewart Cink. “It’s one of the best golf courses in the whole world,” Cink said. “I think what makes it so good is that Muirfield has a circular set of nines.” Cink refers to the layout of Muirfield, yet another distinct aspect of the course, which has its outward nine literally on the outer rim of the links as the inward nine is encompassed within it. It’s a design feature by the witty Old Tom Morris that puts all the more into play what is historically one of the Open Championship’s strongest defenses: the wind.

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open championship preview

BEYOND REASON “With the variety of winds you’ll get,” Cink said, “You pretty much hit everything, all different types of wind direction, and the holes curve this way and that. It’s just a thorough examination of each of your shots.” There is certainly a strong track record of American successes in the Open Championship, especially in recent years. Eleven of the past eighteen champions hail from the States. But what may seem a paradox here is that these links venues are almost never seen on a week-in and weekout basis by these American touring pros. Many of them are only able to get to Great Britain and Ireland a week early such as Cink and Woods, and a few even play the week before in the States at the US PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic and don’t get to a links course until the Monday of championship week. Regardless of what Americans are doing to prepare for golf ’s oldest championship they all must deal with the challenge of the time change from the States to the UK. Most American PGA Touring pros live either in Arizona, which is eight hours behind Greenwich time, or in Florida, which is five hours behind. Jim Furyk takes the more active approach with the inevitable jet-lag that ensues for Open Championship week. “I think the key is being active and move around,” Furyk said. “You’re going to feel like crap the first couple days whether you like it or not. Just to get up and swing and hit and go play even if you’re not playing that well just go do it.” Some players, including Zach Johnson, play at the US PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic the week just preceding Open Championship week. Johnson and a number of other Americans then take the provided flight from the Deere tournament that takes them straight to the Open Championship venue on Sunday night, arriving Monday morning. Johnson has a huge passion for the year’s third major. “I enjoy it,” Johnson said. “It’s one of my favorite tournaments. It’s my favorite kind of golf. Just because we don’t have it here. We don’t have true links here (in the States), anywhere.” Last year, the Open Championship was missing the year’s US Open champion Webb Simpson. He skipped out on the championship because of the birth of his second child, Willow Grace. However Simpson is pleased to be headed to the championship this time. “I’m excited,” Simpson said. “I’ve only played one British so I’m excited to get back.” His preparation will be on controlling his

ball flight and envisioning his shots. “I’m going to prepare how I normally would,” Simpson said. “Just hitting certain flighted shots, make sure my imagination is running, and hopefully I can get some good bounces that week.” “07 and ’08 Open Champion Padraig Harrington finally tasted major championship success at Carnoustie in ’07 after coming close in previous attempts. He’s learned over his many years of playing links golf and major championship golf that how one prepares is paramount. “You’ve got to have good preparation,” Harrington told Inside Golf. “And knowing what good preparation is for you. For so many years in my career I played great the following weeks of a major, so you try to figure out what makes you peak for that given week.” Harrington finished in a tie for fifth place in ’02 finishing only one shot out of the four-man playoff. Not surprisingly, he views Muirfield in a very positive light. “It’s obviously one of the more favoured of the Open venues,” Harrington said. “It’s a very fair golf course, a solid golf course, it’s not quite as tricky as some of the other links golf courses.” It is often said about Muirfield that it is more of a “what you see is what you get” golf course, which certainly serves as a contradiction to most links courses as Harrington alludes. It could be an advantage to the American contingent as blind shots are more rare to their parkland and desert courses versus traditional links golf. Ideal course conditions are also more of an American staple. “Out here we’re so used the manicured condition of the courses,” Cink said of golf in the States. “Anything less than an expected type of bounce and we get upset. Over there you can’t do that, you’ve got to be expecting all different types of bounces and you’ve got to play for the percentages.” One player who is certainly used to the subtleties of links golf is Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell. McDowell has no experience at Muirfield yet but is taking a successful approach to competing at major championship venues he has yet to play. By getting there the Wednesday before Championship week McDowell says he’ll avoid the crowds and other competitors, helping him to focus on the task at hand. “I did that last year at Lytham and it worked pretty well,” McDowell said. “I’ll go in there the week before and get my prep down.” McDowell finished last year’s Open Championship in a tie for fifth, he finished in a tie for second at the US Open, and played the other two major championships in a tie for twelfth or better.

With his intense competitiveness and innate ability to grind out final rounds in tough conditions it is no surprise that he embraces the challenges of a major. In fact, majors are duly valued highest by McDowell. “When we get to (majors) we try not to put them up there,” McDowell said of their importance. “We try to play them for what they are, just another event. But they’re very important to us. Certainly we want to win them.” Certainly the players assembled this month at Muirfield would love to add their name to the distinguished list of past winners that include Vardon, Player, Nicklaus, Watson, and Faldo among others. Who will be next? At press time, the Australian contingent competing at Muirfield includes Stephen Dartnall, Jason Day, Marcus Fraser, Steven Jeffress, Geoff Ogilvy, Adam Scott, John Senden and Peter Senior. While Scott would be the odds-on favourite, Fraser has seen some fine form recently, while Ogilvy will look to better his 9th place finish last year. In addition, Day will be looking to build upon his strong T2 finish at the U.S. Open. •

Muirfield scorecard (Yardages to vary slightly for the Open) Hole

Yards

Par

Hole

Yards

450

472

Par 4

367

389

379

382

229

193

561

478

469

447

187

188

445

578

558

473

OUT

3645

3600

OUT

3645

TOT

7245

DID YOU KNOW

The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, based at Muirfield, holds the claim of being the oldest verifiable organised golf club in the world. The club’s records date continuously back to 1744, when it produced thirteen “Rules of Golf” for its first competition which was played at Leith Links for the “Silver Club”. The club played on the five holes at Leith Links for nearly a century, but overcrowding forced a move in 1836 to Musselburgh Old Course’s 9-hole Old Course. In 1891, the club built a new private 18-hole course at Muirfield. The first Open held on the new course in 1892 was the first tournament anywhere contested over four rounds, or 72 holes.

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open championship preview

Q&A with Ernie Els

Australian Senior Amateur Championship

Reigning British Open champion Ernie Els recently chatted with members of the media about his game, belly putters and being a role model. Tell us about a day in the life of Ernie Els? How would you spend your average day? “Well I have just got back from Thailand and I must say that dealing with the time change is not very easy. We arrived back from Thailand on Monday morning and I went straight to see a New York Yankees game at Yankees Stadium. I am a Yankees fan. But the average day for me is very centred around the kids. I am also working on my game. So I have my coach here and we are working on my short game and my putting.” With your Open Championship last year, did that make you change your approach to the game? “Well, yes it did. It gives you a pass for the next five years to play in Major Championships. I feel that with the right venue and my game in shape, I’ve got a chance to get into the competition at the highest level. You never know, you might squeeze one or two more out of the last few years of my career. I am 44 now and in five years’ time I will be 49 and almost ready for the Seniors Tour. It’s been a really nice way to get into the Majors the next five years so I really feel excited about it.” Your course design business is obviously very big in Asia. “Golf is growing so fast in Asia. There are a lot of markets. We are busy in Malaysia at the moment, creating courses where tournaments can come and showcase some of our venues. We are down in Desaru doing 27 holes and now we are doing 18 holes up in Lankawi. Very nice golf courses. Beautiful terrain to work with. We are busy talking to people in China, and Indonesia would be another great market. Indonesia is one of the most populated areas in Asia with a lot of people and with golf growing. So to build more golf courses seems very natural.” You have been a role model for many up-andcoming golfers, not only in your home country, South Africa, but also around the globe. How does that make you feel? “Well, obviously good. I started the Ernie Els Golf Foundation in 1999. I always wanted

to start something like that when I was young to give back to the game that has given me so much. You know, really trying to find talented players in South Africa and where we feel they really have a future in the game. And we are very fortunate to have chosen some really great talent that have won major championships now. It’s nice to play with these guys who keep me on my toes; they have a lot of energy. I always remember their faces. It’s nice for me to help them with some advice on how to get themselves into good form for tournaments. So it’s very nice to give something back. I had that through guys like Greg Norman and Nick Price, who helped me a lot through my career.”

You’ve stated that you will be changing from a belly putter to a short putter. How is that going? I really enjoy the short putter. Made some really nice putts from 15 to 20 feet especially in the third round in Thailand and I am very happy with the work I have put in and it’s starting to feel a bit more natural again.” If you could share one tip with golfers of the world, what would it be? “Well, obviously from player to player it’s different. But one tip would be to have the three fundamentals really set: Have a good grip, have a good posture and good ball position. Without that it would be tough to hit the ball properly. The fundamentals, like in a lot of sports, have to be right. •

Australia’s premier championship for senior golfers, the Australian Senior Amateur Championship, will be played at Royal Queensland Golf Club from 3-5 September. The event attracts Australia’s and some of the world’s leading golfers aged 55 years and over, however there is plenty of room in the field for the good senior golfer at club level who would like to contest a National Championship. With a handicap limit of 9, all players contest 54-holes stroke play. A cut is made after 36-holes to the leading 108 players, however those who miss the cut continue to play the third and final round. The champion is awarded the Kerry Packer Trophy, with the runner-up and the third place getters overall also receiving Medals. Age mementos are awarded to players in the 55-59 years, 60-64 years, 65-69 years, and 70 years and over age categories. The event concludes with a Presentation Cocktail Reception on the final evening. The event has been played since 1981 at some of Australia’s leading courses, seven of which have hosted Men’s or Women’s Australian Opens. The competition is fierce, however the social aspec t of the event allows players to make long lasting friendships and renew acquaintances each year. Entries open on 4 June, and close on 6 August. The entry fee of $160 (on-line) includes a practice round, three rounds of tournament golf, a championship gift, and attendance at the Presentation Cocktail Reception. For more, visit www.golfaustralia.org.au, email championships@golfaustralia.org.au, or phone 03 9626 5050. •

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open championship preview

BEYOND REASON

Course photo courtesy of Muirfield

with Steven Jeffress Prepping for the Open Championship Steven Jeffress ed@insidegolf.com.au

In late January I played in one of the International Qualifying events for the Open Championship—or as some know it the British Open—and I was lucky enough to finish 2nd over the 36 holes with rounds of 68, 67 at Kingston Heath Golf Club to earn my ticket to the oldest championship of all. Well, five months on and now the biggest tournament of my life is only weeks away and although it has always been a dream to play in a major championship, I’ve never even been to watch one. So I have certainly been busy doing my homework. A few weeks after qualifying, I thought that it’s about time to start preparing, even though the event is not until mid July. Now that doesn’t just mean standing on the range for endless hours beating balls, there’s the whole other side of these events that you have to put time into. Firstly flights. When should I go over? How early do I get to the course? How much time do I allow for jet lag? Will flying business class be a worthwhile investment to help my recovery? These may seem like easy questions but when you arrive at a golf tournament, you need to arrive at a time best for you to prepare and every person is different. Too early and sometimes you have too much time

to think, too late and things seem a rush and you start having regrets. I have been on both sides of the coin and neither is an option on the golf world’s biggest stage. Secondly, where do I stay? Not knowing the area it’s always a guess as to how good your accommodation is, not to mention getting in and around the place. After spending quite some time looking, I found a place in North Berwick. As there will be 4 of us there, Robbie Bennetts (friend and sponsor), Robyn Beecher (long time friend) and Jeff Lloyd (caddie), I needed a place with 4 beds and the cheapest I could manage to get it for was 5000 pounds, for the 7 days......and I can tell you that was the cheapest. To be honest I had no idea how expensive it was to play a major! I was told by colleagues who had played before that it is likely to cost about $20,000 Australian dollars for the trip and I thought that was way off, but now I know it’s almost spot on. Knowing this and certainly having an opportunity to provide a company exposure, I have been busy trying to secure a sponsor to help offset at least some costs and although I have had dedicated plenty of time and had several discussions with many companies as I write this, still nothing in concrete. With respect to working on my game, that is something that you continuously do and has been difficult

to ‘work’ on your game during a busy time. It has been a busy last month flying from Papua New Guinea to Korea where I played two events and then straight back home to play in some events on the QLD Sunshine Tour. Although now when you’re out there in certain situations, I sometimes think if this was happening at the Open, how would I handle it? An example was at the Dysart Pro Am last month. It’s a big event, $35,000 in prizemoney and a good field including a major winning Wayne Grady and although I shot six under par the first day and was tied for the lead, on the second day I was 4 over through 6 holes. I asked myself, how do I handle this? Do I get cranky and give up, resigning myself that it is just one of those days, or do I pretend that this is the Open and grind my way back? I went with the second option and ended up shooting 2 under for the day. The next day I shot 65 and went on to win the tournament by a shot. I believe that this is the mental strength that you must have to compete against the world’s best and that is exactly what I’m going to be doing in a few weeks’ time. I am really looking forward to the whole experience at the Open, but more than that I am focusing on a top 20 finish as my goal, an achievable goal that I know plenty of my amateur partners who I have played with over recent times will be willing me to accomplish. •

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on tour

Griffin gearing up for Aussie gold Henry Peters

ed@insidegolf.com.au @hsspeters

Victorian pro Matt Griffin’s time on the OneAsia tour has taught him that playing – let alone winning – in Korea can be a harrowing task. Simply having enough golf balls to hit on the practice range is considered a luxury at Korean events where locals perennially dominate leaderboards. But the 29-year-old cracked the code with a win at May’s weathershortened SK Telecom Open. His second win on OneAsia and third as a professional netted him the biggest cheque of his career - $184,000. “Your first win always has a bigger significance because it’s the first time you’ve done it but this one was really special,” Griffin says. “That time last year I wasn’t going a long way with my golf so I guess the 12 months since then has been great.” Heavy fog forced organisers of the SK Telecom Open to suspend the final round with Griffin finishing one-shot clear after 54 holes. “It was a long wait on Sunday because I was at the course by eight and it didn’t end up getting called off until just before 12.” Griffin – a member at Victoria Golf Club on the Melbourne sandbelt – found himself in the final group on the Saturday, one shot behind Korean Chang-Yoon Kim. He made par at his final hole amid brutal conditions to seal the unconventional win. “Playing the 18th hole was a 450-metre par four straight back into the breeze and I couldn’t actually get there for two. I played the hole just trying to give myself a chance at making par and I guessed if I made bogey, worst-case scenario, I went into the last round tied for the lead.” It was a grandstand finish for Griffin who steadied himself to hole a putt of close to 30 feet from the back fringe of the green. “It was downhill, had quite a bit of break on it. It was a tough putt. The wind was howling, it was raining at the time. I was standing over the putt really thinking it’d be nice to make it but if I two-putt I wouldn’t be unhappy so it was a big bonus.”

The SK Telecom has been a happy hunting ground for Aussies with New South Welshman Kurt Barnes winning in 2011. But Griffin says events in Korea typically yield incredible dominance from locals. “Korea is sort of known as the hardest place to go as foreigners and play. Their courses are a little different, they tend to have the fairways a little bit longer, they put some tough pins out there on a lot of slopes. Traditionally, out of the top 20 there might be one or two foreigners.” Griffin also says treatment of players in Korea is heavily biased in favour of locals. “You can be limited with the amount of balls you can hit on the range. You sign your name off and you only get one bucket and that’s it for the day. It tends to be dependent on who you are to how many balls you get.” With the win, Griffin has added flexibility to build his schedule, forcing him to re-evaluate his goals for the remainder of 2013. “You’ve got security on the tour and the money sort of allows you to go and test yourself out and have a good crack at a tour school at the end of the year. Perth International is a big week because it’s cosanctioned with Europe so if you can win that then suddenly you’re on the European Tour. Having the win helps because you can sort of target events a bit more.” Griffin’s win is yet another notch in the belt of Australian golf for 2013. The Victorian admits Adam Scott’s stirring win at the US Masters played a part in his victory. “Since he won and Brett Rumford won a couple of times, Aussies seem to be winning all the time. Watching it was just so exciting and it shows Aussie golf ’s going the right way. When you see Adam doing that, it gives you a bit of a spur on to try and follow it up.” Griffin will take most of July off at home in Melbourne in a bid to rest up ahead of the Australian summer of golf. “I’m going to do a bit more work with my coach Denis McDade and also try and get some good work done in the gym. Once it gets to August, the schedule with Australia, tour schools and OneAsia is really busy so I’ll freshen up before all that.” Looking ahead to November, Griffin will return to his childhood

With a win under his belt, Victorian Matt Griffin is re-evaluating his 2013 goals. (Photo: OneAsia)

neighbourhood, desperate to don the gold jacket with victory at the Australian Masters at Royal Melbourne. “I grew up really close to Royal, my first coach was Bruce Green, the head pro at Royal and I worked there for four or five years. I’ve always loved the golf course. It’s one of the reasons I started playing.” •

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on tour

Loneliness tests Jessica’s resolve David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

PROFESSIONAL golfers say golf can be a lonely sport especially if you are a rookie playing in a foreign country. Young Perth-born professional Jessica Speechley, a rookie on the Japan LPGA Tour, is one of those players. “It can be very lonely out here (Japan),” Jessica said. “Tamie Durdin and I are the only Aussies on the tour. “She been here for 10 years and although a bit older, she has been great and has helped me out which is nice. “I am okay at the moment because I have my friend and professional golfer Bree Turnbull here caddying for me.” Jessica, who reached the pinnacle of Australian amateur golf when ranked number one in the country, turned professional at the end of 2011 and last year played the Australian Ladies’ Professional Golf Tour and the secondary US Symetra Tour. Her best finish in the professional ranks is a tie for second at last year’s ISPS Handa Women’s New Zealand Open thanks to a final round 65. The 24-year-old quit the US in favour of attending the Japan LPGA Tour’s qualifying school where she survived the gruelling four stages to win a tour card. “It took me three years to finally play in Japan,” she said. “It’s a long process – four stages. The first three stages are three rounds each and the final stage is four rounds. “It’s extremely tough, but I finally made it.”

Jessica Speechley watches the outcome of a tee shot. Now Jessica is working hard to keep her card for 2014 … and beat the loneliness. To keep her card, she must finish inside the top-50 on the money list. To beat the loneliness, she must remain mentally strong. Unfortunately, Jessica got off to a mediocre start missing a couple of cuts, but her performances have improved and she is regularly making cuts. “I have just had a week off after playing 12 tournaments in a row,” Jessica said. “I will now play another five in a row and then take a month off and return to Australia in July.” “I chose to play in Japan because it’s close to home, is in the same time zone and I’m half Asian. My mum is Korean and suggested I play in Japan.

“I love the Asian culture and especially love Korean food,” said Jessica, who is fluent in Korean and speaks some Japanese courtesy of studying the language at high school.” For Jessica, moving from the amateur to professional ranks proved a smooth transition. “There wasn’t much difference because I play golf to enjoy it,” she said. “I prefer the pro life because you are rewarded if you play well, but there is a lot of pressure, especially in Japan, because it’s very expensive to play here. “I try not to think about that and just go out and enjoy the game rather than think about money.”

As an amateur, Jessica won a Karrie Webb Scholarship, which allowed her to travel to the US to observe Australia’s top female golfer prepare mentally and physically for a US Women’s Open – an event she won in 2000 and 2001. “I went over there (America) twice to watch Karrie go through the routine of preparing for the US Women’s Open,” she said. “I learnt a lot by staying with her and I look up to her because she always helps me with good advice. “She is definitely one of my role models and I have managed to keep in touch with her.” Ironically, Inside Golf ’s interview with Jessica coincided with Webb’s win on the US LPGA Tour last month. As soon as Jessica got word Webb had won the ShopRite LPGA Classic, she sent the seventime major winner a congratulatory message. A sporting childhood allowed Jessica to dabble in many different sports including one of her favourites – soccer. “When I was 14 I went to a golf range to hit golf balls, loved it and I have been playing golf ever since,” said Jessica, who has a twin sister, Bronwyn. “My sister got her handicap down to two, but she gave up playing about five years ago and is studying sports science at university. “She didn’t enjoy the travel associated with golf as much as I do.” Jessica’s immediate goal is to keep her tour card in Japan and once established may consider a move to the US LPGA Tour. An accomplished piano player, Jessica believes her mental toughness is the key that will allow her to realise her dream of becoming a consistent performer on golf ’s world stage. •

Upcoming Events CITY OF ORANGE GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP 5-7 October 2013

Enjoy a long weekend of golf in NSW’s premier food and wine district and play on each of Orange’s magnificent golf courses. Duntryleague Golf Club, Orange Ex-Services Country Club and Wentworth Golf Club. Played over three days and three courses and with $6,000 worth of prizes to be won, this is a championship event not to miss. www.golforange.com.au

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LADIES’ OPEN TOURNAMENT 28 October to 1 November 2013

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July 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

on tour

Luiten seals sparkling win at Diamond Country Club Joost Luiten held off the challenge of Thomas Björn to claim his second European Tour title at the Lyoness Open with a one under par 70 in the final round at Diamond Country Club in Austria. The 27-year-old Dutchman began the round with a three shot lead and stayed clear all day, despite charges from Björn, who closed with a 68 to take second place two shots back from Luiten’s 17-under-par total, and China’s Liang Wenchong, whose 66 gave him a share of third place alongside Frenchman Romain Wattel (69). “It’s a great feeling and it’s been a great week,” said Luiten, whose first win came in the 2011 Iskandar Johor Open. “It was a long day and I started with a three-putt for bogey. But I was hitting the ball really nicely and I was just trying to hit the greens and two-putt and let the others chase me. Australia’s Daniel Gaunt finished T66 on +4, shooting 70 74 71 77 (292). •

Webb wins ShopRite LPGA Classic World Golf Hall of Famer Karrie Webb captured her 39th LPGA title last month, posting a final round of three-under-par to finish at four-under and two clear of overnight leader Shanshan Feng at the ShopRite LPGA Classic in New Jersey. Webb, who started the final round five shots off the lead, handled the tough windy conditions better than anyone. Her superior ball striking ability and holing vital putts were the keys to her win. More: www.lpga.com •

Wesselingh waltzes to win

Manassero creates history with dramatic victory Matteo Manassero became the youngest BMW PGA Championship winner in history at the age of 20 after a thrilling play-off victory at Wentworth Club. The Italian finished level with 2010 winner Simon Khan and Scotland’s Marc Warren on ten under par after 72 holes, but after Warren exited at the first play-off hole having driven into trees down the right, the two remaining players looked inseparable. It was the fourth additional trip down the 18th that eventually split Manassero and Khan – the latter finding water with his second while Manassero fired a brilliant approach to 20 feet and two-putted for birdie. “It’s been an amazing week,” said the 2009 Amateur Champion. “I’ve always felt

something really special about this place and this tournament. Everything has come together this week, and I managed to play well and stay in contention after a tough day on Friday, and pull it off in this play-off. Lee Westwood looked to be marching towards the title, but the Englishman dropped four shots in four holes on the back nine to slip away, but there was better fortune for veteran Spaniard Miguel Angel Jiménez, who finished birdie-eagle in his 600th European Tour event to take a share of fourth spot. Australian Brett Rumford finished T62 on 292 (75 71 72 74; +4), while fellow countryman Andrew Dodt captured 67th place on 294 (75 71 73 75; +6). •

Paul Wesselingh saved his best for last at the ISPS HANDA PGA Seniors Championship as he posted the lowest round of the week at De Vere Mottram Hall to set the seal on a four shot victory over Paraguay’s Angel Franco. His staggering 20-under- par total proved insurmountable for the chasing pack as he carded a flawless closing round of 64 to hold off competition from Franco and a charging Ian Woosnam, who applied the pressure early in the final round on his way to posting a 65 and a third place finish. “It is unbelievable, I just can’t believe I’ve done it,” said Wesselingh. I couldn’t believe I’d done it last year, and I can’t believe I’ve done it again this year. “To win it two years on the trot with this quality of field is incredible. I just played the best I’ve ever played today, and my putter went red hot, I just holed everything. AUSTRALIANS T Price (T30), 71 74 74 71, T Elliott (45), 75 73 73 73. G Banister (T55), 72 74 76 75. MC: P Fowler, 75 76; K Olsen, 77 76; N Ratcliffe 77 78. •

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It only takes two to be Australasia’s best amateur golf pair Win a trip to the US Masters Register your pair in the 2013 Auto Club Golf Championship and even if you don’t make it to the Championship Final you could find yourself seeing Adam Scott defend his title at the US Masters in Augusta. That’s right: every pair who record their details when registering will go in the draw for a trip for two people to the 2014 Masters valued at $15,000. Play more than one ACGC event and increase your odds to see Adam defend his green jacket. • RACV Cape Schanck Resort will kick off the ACGC series in 2013 The 2013 series of the Auto Club Golf Championship is off to a swinging start this month. The first of 70 regional events will kick off on 4th July at RACV Cape Schanck Resort. Amateur golfers around the country are choosing their playing partner wisely with the winning pair from each regional qualifying event both receiving a trip to the Championship Final at RACV Royal Pines Resort. “We are going to see some pretty fierce competition this year, “said Assistant Tournament Director, Hayley Hunt. “After the inaugural series in 2012 golfers now understand just how much value they get from participating. For example based on the feedback we know all last year’s finalists will certainly be teeing up to do their best to make it back to the Gold Coast”. Thanks to the united support from Auto Clubs

(NRMA, RACV, RACQ, RAA, RAC, RACT AANT and AANZ) the 2013 Championship is guaranteed to be bigger and better. The Auto Club Golf Championship is open to all amateur golfers age 16+. All you need to register is for one of your team of two to have a valid Auto Club Membership. Represent your Auto Club in 2013 and you could also make your state proud at the Championship Final where if 2012 is anything to go by the interstate rivalry will be as fierce as it is fun. The 2013 format is a 4 Ball Aggregate, (two people play in pairs and add their two stableford scores together, whilst still keeping their Individual stableford card scores). In addition a separate Individual Stableford Event will be held on the day. All regional events scorecards will also be handicapped via GolfLink. To represent your Auto Club and make your state proud log on to the website and find an

ACGC event near you. For all the event dates and locations visit www.acgc.com.au, or visit their Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/ autoclubgolfchampionship •

Upcoming ACGC Events SA Berri Golf Club WA Capel QLD Rowes Bay GC NSW Corowa Shelly Beach VIC RACV Cape Schanck NT Darwin Golf Club

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www.acgc.com.au www.insidegolf.com.au | July 2013

on tour

‘On course’ with Matt Kuchar Garrett Johnston ed@insidegolf.com.au

You introduced yourself to the professional golfing world as a freshfaced 20-year old kid in 1998 at the US Masters and US Open, now you have kids of your own. How rewarding has it been to have them in your life? “It’s definitely been a fun transition. It’s kind of what I saw for myself. Just the sort of life progression. Getting married, find a great wife, enjoy the marriage, have some kids. It gives you a new perspective. Before I didn’t realise, I’m sure I didn’t realise, how much effort and care and love my parents had for me. We’ve always had a great relationship. I think you gain that different perspective as to how your parents feel towards you. The interesting perspectives and the other thing is the kids’ innocence and how they’re able to have fun in any situation. My life is a whole bunch of hotels, golf courses, and restaurants. Hotels can get kind of old and stale but to a kid, having a kid in a hotel is like a big playground. It makes it fun, and to see things through their eyes, simple things can be so much fun. What do you enjoy doing with your family? Everything we can, as much as we can. I’ll bring them out to the driving range, take them on the tennis courts, play a lot of baseball, a lot of soccer. Any kind of ball sport we’re making an effort to do. I love swimming too. We got a chance to meet Michael Phelps. The kids, they must have recognized his name. They don’t know many famous people but they were excited to hang out with Michael Phelps, to see him swim. Michael gave the kids swim caps and they got really excited. My kids love swimming so that was fun. It seems like sports is a common theme with them? I think sports is one of the more important things kids can do. In sports it doesn’t matter race colour, ethnicity, background, it’s just ‘can you play or can you not play?’

Photo: USGA

There’s much talk about your love of tennis. What places do you enjoy in the game? I have been to Wimbledon, it was a treat. Wimbledon’s a great experience. Wimbledon and the US Open I’ve just been to early rounds but I really enjoy the early rounds seeing all the tennis on the outer courts, the practice sessions, and all the other stuff that goes on. Who do you enjoy watching the most? I am a big Federer fan, sure thing. I think tennis right now is really exciting because you’ve got four top guys: Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, and Murray. It’s so exciting with those guys really going at it. It’s kind of fun to have some rivalries, although they seem to all get along well. But there’s certainly some battles on the court. Who were some of your early influences in sport? I think in the sports I played I wanted to be Boris Becker when I was trying to be a tennis player. I wanted to be like Magic Johnson from a basketball standpoint and once golf came around Phil Mickelson was the generation before me. I still knew all the stories about him and junior golf. The events he won as a junior. Then amateur golf and college golf he kind of won all the time, and won in cool fashion, and he was a guy I kind of wanted to be like. If you could choose to be any kind of athlete other than a golfer what would you choose? Basketball is fun, tennis is amazing how they travel the world. I think baseball is a cool game. The season might be a little too long so maybe basketball, I really enjoy the game of basketball. Where does your good attitude come from? I’ve been blessed that way, I know I’m certainly lucky to play golf. The life I live, I’m more appreciative of. I think if I was doing something else I’d love what I was doing. I try to make the most out of every situation that I’m in. You see, some guys dwell, I’m not

one to dwell on the bad things. I look forward to whatever positive spin I can make out of any situation. Was there an “aha” moment in your younger years that convinced you that golf was going to be your direction? I don’t think so. I couldn’t pinpoint anything but I think as far as I can remember I looked on the brighter side. I certainly had a temper when I started playing golf as a kid. Things can still get under my skin but for the most part I’m still a happy guy on the golf course doing what I’m doing. I’m competitive. Some things will get end up getting under my skin, but it takes a lot. What is your overall mental approach going into each round of golf? I don’t think you can go out and say ‘I want to shoot a 67 today’, I think you have to be more relaxed and not get caught up in the details. You’ve talked about your love of Augusta. Why do you enjoy the Masters? I’ve got some great history there. I have some fantastic memories of playing there as an amateur and when I go back I kind of revert back to those years and how exciting it was for me and I think that everybody has those special memories, so fresh in their mind about Augusta. Whether it’s remembering Jack Nicklaus’ historic run, or Tiger winning

by a million shots, or Phil getting his first Masters win. I think everybody has some great memories there and that’s what it is to me. I kind of go back in time when I go there. Do you remember watching golf much in your younger years? I loved watching it but more so I love playing. That was the thing I’ve always had and still have. That bug that I really love the game as far as playing. The history I think is great. Golf has a history, kind of like baseball, a big, storied history that people do remember, and that is passed along from generation to generation. So there is some great tradition that I think is followed with the game of golf and I think it’s great for us to continue those traditions that have been set in the past. What do you make of golf in the 2016 Olympics in Brazil? I’m a huge Olympics fan just as a spectator. It’s one of my favorite things to do is just kind of kick back and watch some of the personal interest stories. Watch the guy from nowhere who goes out to compete in the Olympics. It’s really cool seeing guys compete. The best of the best against each other. It’s pretty fun and I’m excited to think golf is going to be in the next Olympics. What draws you to the game? The competition is great, the practice I love, just the game. I’m still addicted to playing the game. I still enjoy getting out and seeing if I can get better. •

• 18th century house in the quiet hamlet of La Madrinie in the beautiful Charente region of south-west France • Moonlit BBQ’s on balmy summer nights, when it is light until 10pm • Championship golf course nearby • Close to the wine region of Bordeaux, the coastal attractions of La Rochelle and Ile de Re, and the liquid delights of the famous Cognac region • Fresh croissants, baguettes and french pastries delivered to the hamlet daily Golf International de La Prèze offers a main 18 hole champion’s course, a unique 18 hole pitch-and-putting competition course, as well as a driving range and two pitch and putting practice greens.

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July 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

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instruction

Grip pressure: light, not tight Glenn Whittle glenn@whittlegolf.com (02) 9541 4960

I often ask golfers whether they think good putters on tour have a light or firm hold on the putter when they are putting well. Invariably these golfers answer “light, but I think mine is too firm.” Although I have seen a few good putters come through The Sydney Putting Studio that have a firm grip pressure, more often than not the good ones do what we would expect, and that is hold the club lightly. The main reason grip pressure is not often discussed is simply because we cannot see someone’s grip pressure, unless, of course it is extreme. Also, what one player might describe as ‘light’ might be described as ‘firm’ by the next player. As a side note, I have noticed that builders and plumbers (and other similar tradespeople) have rough and tough hands, and hold the putter very tightly. This may be because they are holding heavy tools all day at work. An important point to make is that from the good putters I have studied and/or monitored, I have noticed that their pressure remains constant throughout the stroke, even the players who grip the putter a little more firmly. Many golfers talk about holding the club tightly so they can reduce excessive wrist movement during the stroke. Although this sounds rational it is not really a good idea. I would rather see you hold the putter lightly so you can keep the feel

required to judge the distance, while allowing the wrists to move freely from the shoulders and chest moving. The hands are passive with minimal movement, but are not locked. Next time you are practicing your putting, I would encourage you to hit five putts holding the putter at about a ‘two’ in regards to grip pressure (where ‘one’ is as light as possible and ‘ten’ is extremely tight). Then hit five putts where you hold the putter at a grip pressure of ‘nine’,

followed by five more putts holding the putter at approximately a ‘four’ or ‘five’. Pay particular attention to the speed control you have on each grip pressure and see which one suits you best and, importantly, whether you feel it changes at any point. If you are having trouble with your putting or would like to confirm that your putter specs are suitable for you and your stroke, don’t hesitate to make an appointment. •

The 2008 NSW PGA Teacher of the Year, Glenn Whittle is an AAA PGA Member and is also an official iseekgolf.com teaching Panelist. Visit (www.sydneyputtingstudio.com) or www.whittlegolf.com

Golf Swing ER

with Glenn Whittle

Hi Glenn, Watching the US Open on TV, I saw a lot of the professionals struggling to get the ball out of the rough. As I spend most of the time in the rough at my course, I can relate to their frustrations (though our rough is nowhere near as long as that at Merion!) So I was wondering: what are the keys to playing from the rough? How does the ball react differently? How should I adjust my stance/swing? Rough and Ready (to learn) The common issues when our ball is in long rough is: 1. We are not used to hitting out of long rough that often so we don’t get the chance to see what we can and cannot do. 2. We can see what we could normally do if the lie wasn’t so bad and our ego and ambition gets the better of us and we attempt a shot way too risky for the predicament we are in. My first piece of advice is, go out on the course when you are playing a few holes and practice from these ugly lies, hit two or three balls and see what happens, hit a few different clubs and shots. Secondly, unless you have to be risky and need to try something very ambitious, then I would encourage you to use a very lofted club like a wedge, open the club face and swing down steeply behind the ball and hit the shot harder than you think you should. Hope this helps. •

Need help? The Doctor is in! Is your golf swing in need of CPR? Does your driving feel DOA? If so, the Doctor is in! Email ed@insidegolf.com.au with your swing symptoms and he will write a prescription for success in next month’s issue!

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www.youtube.com/theputtingcoach www.insidegolf.com.au | July 2013

instruction

Hitting 50-80m wedge shots

Pete Hayhoe ed@insidegolf.com.au

This month, I’ll discuss hitting short pitching shots ranging from 30-80m. This component of the game is extremely neglected by the casual golfer. I regularly see students and customers coming to the range with only a fairway or driver. They lace away with no warm up, hit 100 balls and maybe hit 10% ok. They walk away with no confidence, poor rhythm and timing and most likely a sore back. ALL tour pros will start their range session hitting a sand wedge to their favourite yardage between 30-80m. This helps to warm up their muscles, create good rhythm and timing then build into the longer clubs. Example practise breakdown: 1. 50% with LW to PW 2. 30% other irons 3. 20% Fairways and driver.

A common fault I see when hitting wedges is too much use of the hands and no-body rotation (see pic 1.) A simple drill to cure this is hitting short shots with your right hand only (see pic 2). This promotes more body rotation and less flipping of the hands. The first few shots might be a bit ugly, but after a while you will be able to feel how active your body needs to be. I suggest hitting five shots onehanded then one shot with two hands. It is very important to use more body when pitching and chipping, engaging your bigger muscles creates a more consistent move. • Pete Hayhoe is the Manager of the Thornleigh Golf Centre, located at Brickpit Park, 142178 Pennant Hills Road (Cnr Dartford Road) Thornleigh NSW 2120. For more information, contact: Tel 02 9875 5445; Mob 0450 597 265 or visit www.thornleighgolfcentre.com.au

- 2009 Queensland Golf Club of the Year - Head Professional John Victorsen voted in the “Top 100 PGA Professionals of the last 100 years of the PGA in Australia” - Course Superintendent Ben Tilley awarded the 2011 Queensland Golf Course Superintendents Achievement Award for Excellence & 2012 AGCSA Excellence in Golf Course Management Award

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July 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

Advanced Junior Clinics a success in regional Queensland

Golf Queensland again travelled regionally this year to facilitate three Advanced Junior Clinics in Cairns, Townsville and Mackay. Mareeba Golf Club, Rowes Bay Golf Club and Mackay Golf Club played host to over 45 junior golfers from the surrounding areas. Golf Queensland’s Head Coach, Tony Meyer and Participation Development Manager, Adrian Hewat facilitated the three clinics, alongside Far North Queensland’s Sean Metcalf and PGA Professional Luke Newman and North Queensland’s Brett Abdul and Richard Sambell with PGA Professional David Lord. The regional clinics are an excellent opportunity to provide quality coaching assistance to a large number of junior players, with participants exposed to the benefits of Golf Queensland’s High Performance Program. The two-day clinics took the region’s most talented junior players through all aspects of their game. The long game section included video capture and analysis review and Trackman Skills test. The short game aspect encompassed club and shot selection, trajectory control, Sam Putt Lab putting analysis, bunker play and shot variety. As well as short, mid and long game practice, participants learned other valuable information, such as physical preparation, warm up routines

and nutrition with Golf Queensland Strength and Conditioning Coach, Nick Randall, plus course management and course etiquette. Golf Queensland’s Participation Development Manager, Adrian Hewat, said the Advanced Junior Clinics provide young golfers with a fantastic opportunity to develop their golfing ability. “The Clinics in Cairns, Townsville and Mackay went exceptionally well and the feedback we have received from parents, caregivers and golf clubs has been very positive. We hope to continue this encouraging response for the next two clinics to be held later this year,” Mr Hewat said. “The Clinics are a valuable component of our development and high performance structure within Golf Queensland and we are looking at ways the clinics can be developed into the future.” “The level of talent demonstrated among these young golfers is phenomenal and I look forward to seeing the players grow with confidence over the next few years,” Mr Hewat said. •

Upcoming Advanced Junior Clinics:

Mercure Capricorn Resort–Rockhampton, 26-27 September Brookwater Golf and Country Club – Southeast Queensland, 23-24 September Visit www.golfqueensland.org.au

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instruction VIDEO LESSON:

The left hand grip: the most important fundamental Peter Croker

0415 292 549 www.crokergolfsystem.com

It has been approximately four years since we covered the “grip” lesson and over that time it has proved the most important fundamental to get right. Time and again it is the small adjustments that deliver big improvements in ball striking and control. Golf is a simple game; providing that the basic steps are done in a standard manner. To do this takes focused repetition and it pays to have a qualified coach check you out. I have found that the one common denominator between all champions is that they pay great attention to the detail of their grip and stance. This lesson will focus on the “Left Hand” gripping of the club (for right-handed golfers). It is not difficult to learn the grip as outlined below. When you grip the club this way, it will greatly promote a natural hitting of the ball. Take the short time to learn and understand this grip and it will be one thing that will totally help your game, promoting the accuracy and distance of every shot. In the beginning, taking the grip may feel awkward and un-natural. Due to the importance of the grip alignments, it is extremely important that you pay close attention to drilling in this standard grip to become comfortable and natural. The design of the grip is to set up alignments that totally support the action of hitting that ball at impact. If you relate the correct grip in this manner you will see that it is key to a natural ability to hit that ball. •

July 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

Allow the end of the club to protrude to the crease where your hand meets your wrist

Your heel pad is on top of the grip, not on the side. Your left wrist is vertical and on top of the grip.

VIDEO LESSON

Watch the video to this lesson at: https://vimeo.com/53494275 Password: crokerkeytogolf

The grip of the club runs diagonally across the left hand from the crease in your palm between your little finger and heel pad of your hand to the second knuckle joint of your index finger.

Grip the club in the fingers of your left hand first and then place the heel pad of hand on top of the grip. The fingers, not the palm, wrap around the grip.

The grip wedges under the heel pad of the left hand. The left wrist is vertical and on top of the grip.

Left thumb is positioned on the top right hand side of the grip at 1:30. (1:30 refers to time position on a clock).

Peter Croker has been a PGA member since 1971 and has given lessons with his Croker Golf System to professionals including vijay Singh, Arnold Palmer, rocco Mediate, Fred Funk, Olin Browne, and Bob Charles. Based at the Golf Science Centre in Cheltenham, and the Mornington Peninsula, he delivers school instruction, individual lessons, and has an “Online Lesson Program.” www.crokergolfsystem.com/Academy/view-your-swing.html

7 nutrition

Nutritional tips

to stay focused for your golf round

Tiffany Mika

tiffany@theladygolfteacher.com.au

If you want to perform better at golf, your round should always be accompanied by a solid golf nutrition plan. In essence, what you eat determines how you play. So, which foods produce champions and which foods hinder play? Let me give you a few hints. It goes without saying that proper nutrition is important for all of us. But, if you are serious about shaving valuable strokes off your scorecard, you need to make some tough decisions on seeing your diet through. If you travel for golf, or play in frequent tournaments, it is important not to fall into the trap of ‘settling’ for fast food or a quick bag of chips or chocolate bar. To the club and social golfer, if you really want to perform well in your game then it is essential to understand that what you put in your body is going to affect your golf performance. If you put garbage food in your body then you are going to have a garbage performance. Just imagine how much better you can perform if you look after the inside of your body as well. It is truly amazing what a difference the proper nutrition can do. Not only will it improve your health in general, but it also helps you think more clearly and your body will perform better due to improved energy levels throughout your 18 holes of golf. You will even be able to back up better the next day. Did you know that the brain is the primary consumer of energy in the body, and the brain uses 20% of the calories used we consume? Just think: if your brain is balanced because you are putting the right fuel in your body, how much clearer will your thought processes be, how much better will your golf performances be? Golf performance is not just about having the skills in place, it’s having the holistic approach, the right skills + the right training program + the right food = a great golf performance. Make a commitment to use some or all of the following tips and your energy will reach new heights in your next round. • Avoid caffeine and alcohol. Both of these are diuretics, and cause fluid loss and influence hormones that dehydrate body tissues and the brain. They also both affect performance. Coffee can over stimulate your mind or your muscles, making your performance uncontrolled. Excessive consumption of alcohol severely affects your coordination. • Drink lots of water. Think in terms of 8 to 10 glasses each day. Continue throughout your round 40

July 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

to stay hydrated especially during the summer months. Loss of water can impair physiology and performance, so it’s important to ensure regular water intake. I personally use a mixture of Want More Energy and water which works to combat fatigue in the body by keeping the body hydrated, supplying lost electrolytes and sustains your energy naturally. • Avoid large amounts of food in the two hours leading up to tee time. Food in your digestive system diverts blood away from your brain and muscles, affecting concentration and physical performance. A meal two to three hours before play is preferred. If you are playing an early round, make sure you have breakfast; the best form of breakfast is going to be light on your stomach, but keeps you full. An example is a protein shake. Not just any old shake, one that has a good source of protein (whey protein) that is top grade. There are a lot of cheap imitations in the market place, if you want top quality then it will cost you a bit more but really you get what you pay for. • Never skip meals. Golfers need that slow and steady release of energy to see them through difficult or long hours of play. Smaller meals are better to help increase metabolism. But not only that, a slow release of energy keeps your energy levels more constant so that you don’t experience the blood sugar highs and lows. • Eat 5 to 6 small meals throughout the day. This gives your body the nutrition it needs to last. Combine carbohydrates, proteins and fats at each meal. This aides in overall digestion and ensures you are getting the proper nutrients into your body. • Bring snacks to munch on during your golf round. You want to make sure you are making healthy choices for your best performance, so don’t put yourself in a position to feel forced to buy high processed foods or sugar based foods. They tend to raise blood sugar levels quickly and, then, drop rapidly causing fatigue. • Keep it simple. There is no need to make elaborate meals or go to great extent in preparation. If you carry in your snack pack, some fruit, protein bars and bag of nuts that will go a long way in replenishing the energy when you need it. Mentally your brain needs to stay conditioned to tell your body what to do, not to mention calculating distances, swing strength and maintaining focus. Follow these 7 tips and watch your scorecard drop to new lows. If you want to know more about what I do to keep my energy levels up send me an email to discuss. • Tiffany Mika is the Golf Teaching Professional at Bayview Golf Club in Mona vale. Tiffany has a Free Online Putting Program where you can learn how to Putt in your home. Contact her at tiffany@theladygolfteacher.com.au or www.theladygolfteacher.com.au

Eating the right foods...at the right time...can dramatically improve how you play during your round

GOLF SNACKS - WHAT TO EAT AND WHEN Nick Randall ed@insidegolf.com.au

Ever had that feeling where you are having a great round and then get to the 14th or 15th hole and start to make silly mistakes? Wrong club, misjudge the wind, 3 putt from nowhere? Or, do you regularly score better on the front 9 than the back 9, or feel like you throw away too many good rounds by coming home on the bogey (or double bogey) train? Playing consistent golf all the way through a round has a lot to do with being able to maintain concentration. Maintaining concentration has a lot do with keeping energy levels up. Keeping energy levels up is all about food. So what should we eat? And when should we eat it? Well let’s start before the round, which for the purpose of this example is a morning tee off. If your nutrition looks like this then you are doing a pretty good job: Breakfast: Carbohydrates: e.g.,. Oats/muesli (un-sugared), bread/toast (wholemeal), Rice (brown) Protein: e.g.,. Eggs, bacon/ham, cheese, other meat Fats: e.g., Seeds, nuts, avocado, peanut butter 3rd Hole - Golf Snack no.1 Carbohydrates: e.g.,. muesli bar, banana Fats: e.g.,. nuts, seeds

9th Hole - Golf Snack no. 2 Carbohydrates eg,. apple, wrap (wholemeal) Fats eg,. nut and dried fruit mix 15th Hole - Golf Snack no. 3 Carbohydrates e.g., banana, pretzels Fats eg,. nut bar, peanut butter Fluids: Water - aim for 1.5 ltr per 25kg of bodyweight per day. So if you weigh 75kg then you should aim for 4.5 ltrs per day, and more on a hot day. Electrolytes added to your water whilst on course are a good idea to help retain the water in your body. If you are thinking how on earth you are going to keep track of all this food then try using the following system. Get 3 sandwich or ziplock bags and label them 3rd hole, 9th hole and 15th hole and fill them with the corresponding food. When you get to these holes just pull out the bag and munch away. This tactic has been successfully implemented by winning interstate teams, elite amateurs and professionals. It keeps things simple and avoids that forgotten banana which turns up 3 weeks later black and mouldy in the bottom of your bag! • Nick Randall is the Head of Strength and Conditioning for Golf Queensland. He is a Strength and Conditioning Coach and Remedial Massage Therapist based at Twin Waters Golf Academy on the Sunshine Coast. Contact Nick - nick@ randallfitsystems.com for more info or check out his website - www.randallfitsystems.com

nutrition

Keep your water bottle clean

Staying hydrated is key to your performance on the course

Richard Nizielski richard@golffitsolutions.com 0438 027 768

I’m all for doing my part and being eco-friendly. Reusing water bottles, plastic or otherwise is a popular way to help, but one of the big problems with water bottles is mould build-up. So keeping them clean is key. The word ‘bacteria’ can send many people reaching for the hand sanitiser, and while some bacteria are not harmful, it is probably better to be safe than sorry and keep your water bottle clean. Plastics are by nature extremely sanitary materials. However, capping a nearly empty water bottle traps

humidity inside and provides a perfect growing medium for bacteria. These bacteria generally come from your hands and mouth, or any dirt that comes in contact with the mouth of the bottle. Bacteria are better able to form a colony if they have a place to cling to as they multiply, and the threads on the mouthpiece of a water bottle provide a perfect place by trapping moisture and providing a safe environment --- right where you put your mouth. Here are a few ways to keep your water bottle clean and safe to use. Sanitising your water bottle Soap and water is a simple and easy way of keeping your water bottle clean. If you have visible bacterial slime or mould in your water bottle, you may like to sanitize your water bottle using one of the following methods. Dishwasher: Load up bottle and top separately

in the regular dishwasher cycle. Some bottles are not dishwasher-safe, so check the bottom of your bottle or the brand’s website to make sure. As well, some stainless steel bottles are not dishwasher safe and should be cleaned with a brush that can reach inside and wash the bottom of the bottle. Use vinegar: An all-natural cleaner, vinegar is great for killing many germs and bacteria. After washing with soapy water, rinse well and fill your bottle one fifth of the way with white vinegar. Fill the rest with warm water, let it stand overnight, and in the morning thoroughly rinse it out. Use baking soda: Place about a half inch of baking soda in the bottom of the bottle. Fill most of the way up with hot water. Secure the lid. Shake the bottle vigorously for about a minute, and then let it sit for about a half hour. Empty the bottle and rinse it thoroughly. Use Hydrogen Peroxide 3 Percent: Mix a solution

Re-using a drink bottle is environmentally friendly, but can also lead to harmful bacteria, so be sure to keep it clean. of one part hydrogen peroxide and one part water. Fill the water bottle and allow the bottle to sit for about an hour and then empty the solution. Rinse the bottle thoroughly. Use a weak bleach solution: If you’re really worried about germs, nothing stands a chance against a little bleach. It is safe to drink from a bottle that’s been cleaned with a weak bleach solution, just make sure you thoroughly rinse it and allow to dry. • Richard Nizielski is a Brisbane-based golf fitness expert and the Director of Golf Fit Solutions. A three-time Olympian and medallist in the sport of short track speed skating, Richard is a qualified sports and personal trainer designing individual fitness and nutrition programs for both professional and amateur golfers here in Australia and overseas. www.golffitsolutions.com

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fitness

Solutions to three typical physical complaints Nick Randall ed@insidegolf.com.au

The average club golfer in Australia plays off 34 if they are female and 20 if they are male. They don’t play a huge amount of golf, rarely practice and often have very busy lives. They usually don’t have the time or the inclination to undertake an intensive physical regimen to improve their golf. But this doesn’t mean that the casual golfer can’t benefit from some work on their body. When we are talking about which aspect of fitness the casual golfer can benefit from the most then it is really difficult to say without a thorough physical screening and lifestyle questionnaire. However there are a few issues that tend to crop up again and again in club golfers that come through our academy. Let’s have a look at the most common complaints and the methods we use to help: THE COMPLAINT: “I have pain in my lower back” Lots of people play golf in pain, in fact according to a Golfer Health study in 2006, a staggering 64% of golfers suffer from low back pain. THE SOLUTION: Strength, Mobility and Postural Awareness and Control Once the individual has been cleared for spinal pathology, disc issues, etc., then we go to working on making them stronger and more mobile. Beginning with awareness and activation drills for the core, spine and posture in general along with soft tissue therapy (massage) on the affected area, i.e., low back. We then look to loosen off the muscles attaching to the pelvis that are pulling the back into an uncomfortable position. On the hit list are invariably hip flexors, quads, deep glutes and hamstrings. Whilst doing this we start to introduce strength exercises for the core, glutes, hamstrings and low back itself.

Glute/hip stretch

THE COMPLAINT: “I want to hit it further” The causal golfer always wants to squeeze out a few extra yards out of his or her driver and we can certainly help but not in the way that you might first imagine. THE SOLUTION: Motor Patterns and Sequencing Rather than simply attempting to increase club head speed with “golf specific rotational core exercises” we firstly look at improving the efficiency of their action. We do this by firstly analyzing the swing and then prescribing motor pattern drills using the Ramsay Posture Belt to help improve their mechanics. In doing so we not only increase their club head speed but also allow the player to get more compression and better launch conditions from their golf ball. Once this has been achieved we can then look at strength exercises to maximize their new efficient action.

Spiky ball release and stretch

THE COMPLAINT: “I can’t swing it the way my coach wants me to” Mobility is by far the biggest inhibitor for casual golfers in getting into the positions that their coach is striving for. If the player does not have the range of motion in a particular joint or length in a muscle then it will be literally impossible for them to get into the right position without a lot of compensation from other parts of the body. THE SOLUTION: Spikey Ball, Functional Stretching and Activation Drills Right shoulder position (for the right handed golfer) is something we constantly work on. Tight pectorals (pec major and minor) and inactive and/ or weak “scap control muscles” (serratus anterior, mid and low traps, and the rotator cuff muscles) work together to drag the shoulder forward. From here it is difficult to set the shoulder and therefore arm and therefore clubhead in the correct position

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at the top of the backswing. We prescribe spiky ball release and stretching for the pecs and a series of activation drills for the “scap control muscles”. These can be performed in golf posture using the Ramsay Posture Belt to help the player transfer the newfound control and strength around their shoulder directly into their golf swing. If any of these complaints resonate with you then seek out a professional in the field and get them to set you on the right track. • Nick Randall is the Head of Strength and Conditioning for Golf Queensland. He is a Strength and Conditioning Coach and Remedial Massage Therapist based at Twin Waters Golf Academy on the Sunshine Coast. Contact Nick - nick@ randallfitsystems.com for more info or check out his website - www.randallfitsystems.com

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July 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

mental game

Developing a great mental caddy in you your mental caddy have done a solid job and the ball has been bouncing your way, you may find yourself in a position to have one of your best rounds yet. A good conversation to have with your mental caddy at this point is to work out how you can feel great all the way into the clubhouse regardless of what golf throws at you. Introduce your mental caddy to make a habit of asking questions like:

Mat Howe

mhmgolf@yahoo.com

This year I have been caddying in several amateur tournaments around Australia and have been very interested to see how different players manage themselves while on the golf course in competition. In my travels I often thought that many of the players I viewed needed a better internal/mental caddy to help get them through a round successfully. A good caddy will look after certain things for their player such as: giving correct distances, the right advice at the right time and even making outcome-defining decisions at certain points within a round. As a player, I would like you to consider viewing yourself as having a mental caddy that can assist you. In this article you will find ways to better help manage your mind by working with this mental caddy throughout a round. The starting point for being your own great mental caddy takes place on the way to the course. It’s the conversations you have with yourself about what you are expecting of yourself that day. I am certain that most people’s best rounds are made before they arrive, just as best shots are made before the player even steps into the ball. Ask your mental caddy the following question before you go out to play your next game.

Q. What would winning the mental tournament today look like for me? Your mental caddy could give you a variety of answers to this question depending on what you best need. An example might be “If I do a solid job of letting myself try the right amount today in all shots I feel like I won the inner battle.”

Q. Over these last 3 holes, how can I play even more carefree and aggressively?

Similar to having an actual caddy on the course, a well-developed “mental caddy” can assist you throughout a round. The next step in developing your mental caddy would be getting off to a good start for the round. Selecting the right club is always a good step, more importantly it is getting yourself to feel as comfortable as possible over the first tee shot which for some strange reason seems to be more emotionally valued than other shots. To do this have a quick check-in with your mental caddy and ask the question:

Throughout the round you may need your mental caddy to help you make important decisions about what type of shots to play in certain situations. Too often I see professionals and top-level amateur golfers going for shots that are on the very limits of their ability. There is a time and place for the risky shot, be wise in when you choose to bring it out. Use your mental caddy to play within your abilities by asking the following question:

Q. How could I really enjoy making a confident, relaxed swing here?

Q. Can I hit this shot at least 7/10 times in a practice environment?

The type of answer you’re looking for here is something like, “get a clear picture of my shot, have a couple of light, free-flowing practice swings and then feel myself making crisp contact”.

If your mental caddy gives you a loud ‘yes’ it’s a good sign to go ahead and hit the shot with every bit of confidence that you have. Coming towards the end of a round if you and

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Have a moment to quickly reflect after each of these finishing shots and measure yourself on how well you did this instead of whizzing your mind around in circles chasing a score to finish on. At the conclusion of your round you want to go over the round with your mental caddy and find out whether you won your inner tournament for the day. There will also be some shots that you can write down to go away and practice to see if you can do them 7/10 times or more. Be sure to thank your mental caddy for his/her help that day. The relationship a golfer has with their mental caddy and actual caddy are very important for success. • Mat Howe is a Golf Mind Coach with a degree in Sport Psychology and has mentally coached golfers from the international professional playing standard through to beginners. If you are interested in making the mental side of golf a strength in your game you will find Mat has simple powerful coaching services and products which can help speed up your progress and make the game more enjoyable. You can reach Mat on 0410 695 605 or email him at mhmgolf@yahoo.com. www.mathowemindgolf.weebly.com

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gear

Sporte Leisure Rainwear

Bushnell Neo X GPS watch Bushnell’s Neo X is the lightest and thinnest Golf GPS Watch in the world. It features a long battery life - 50% better than the nearest competitor, with a three-round capacity—and comes preloaded with over 30,000 courses. No downloads or membership fees ever. SmartRound score improving features include auto course recognition; pre-loaded hazards; shot distance calculator and round odometer. Additional features: simple to use operation; stopwatch, timer, tee time start & auto GPS off; posi-lock clip for easy charge or course updates. Legal for tournament play. RRP $229.95

FootJoy Performance Windshirt The ultimate addition to your golfing wardrobe is the FootJoy Performance Windshirt which is ideal for the colder conditions. The FootJoy Windshirt provides amazing comfort and protection on the golf course during windy play. The supersoft microfibre fabric also includes a water resistant finish for extra comfort in light rain. Available in three different colours. RRP: $109 www.footjoy.com.au.

Sporte Leisure has expanded their range of premium Rainwear. With a broad new range of fabric technologies producing their most weather resistant range for men and women yet. ‘Extreme Tec’ with a four year waterproof guarantee is their premier rainwear range. The garments are fully seam sealed with a DWR (durable water repellent) treatment which allows for rain protection for 4-5 hours exposure. The 4-way stretch allows for superior ease of movement. ‘Storm-Tec ‘ also comes with the DWR Treatment and is suitable for up to 4-5 hours rain exposure. 2-way stretch ‘Storm-Tec’ garments are comfortable and breathable, whilst offering a high level of protection and a 3 year Waterproof guarantee. Also available in men’s and women’s styles. RRP$159.95 www.sporte-leisure.com.au Sporte Leisure: (02) 9693 5777

Spider Blade

Daddy Long Legs

Daddy Long Legs and Spider Blade “Counterbalanced” putters

Nike Golf’s VR Forged Wedges

TaylorMade’s “Daddy Long Legs” and “Spider Blade” are two new “counterbalanced” putters engineered with heavier weight at the grip-end to increase the MOI of the entire club to promote a consistent “on path” stroke. Daddy Long Legs is the newest member of TaylorMade’s renowned line of Spider putters. A “performance mallet,” its 8500+ MOI head -- highest ever for a TaylorMade putter -- is exceptionally stable and resistant to twisting on off-center hits. The Spider Blade is a heel-toe weighted blade that provides a similar leap in stability and forgiveness with an astounding 5200 MOI – the most in any blade ever created by TaylorMade. RRP: Daddy Long Legs: $249 Spider Blade: $209 www.taylormadegolf.com.au

The Nike VR Forged wedge family is made with a fine forged craftsmanship to deliver enhanced shot-making consistency, tour-level feel, and long-life groove performance. The wedges are crafted of a soft 1025 carbon steel and finished in premium satin chrome. Built from the needs of Nike Golf Tour athletes, the VR Forged wedge features three distinct sole grinds (Standard, Dual Narrow Grind and Dual Wide) to ensure ideal set-up from sand, fringe, fairway or deep rough for different players. The VR Forged wedge features Nike’s high-frequency X3X grooves with a precision laser crosshatch pattern that is applied to the land area between the grooves. This pattern adds three times the surface texture versus conventionally finished faces, creating more spin in all conditions. RRP: $179.99 www.nikegolf.com.au

July 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

Greg Norman Wind Sweater The wind sweater by Greg Norman keeps warmth in and the chill out. Featuring a wind protective lining, this sweater collection provides the ultimate comfort against gusting winds. Made with luxurious pima cotton and soft Lenzing Modal, ® the design of the sweater makes it suitable to be worn every day, all day. Available in a range of colours. RRP $99.95 www.sporte-leisure.com.au Sporte Leisure: 02 9693 5777

gear

We Tried it:

Nike TW’14 Inspired and tested by Tiger Woods himself, the natural motion engineered outsole of the Nike TW’14 is designed to mimic and conform to the natural motion of the foot, and still deliver all the protection and traction of a lightweight performance golf shoe. This innovative outsole allows the athlete to keep contact with the ground longer, better harnessing the energy of the foot to the shoe and, therefore, the shoe to the ground. The new upper features improved ventilation

that delivers increased breathability and comfort. This was achieved through strategically located perforations and a more comfortable mesh tongue providing athletes the ventilation they want without compromising the waterproof protection they need. Available in Black/Reflective Silver-Varsity Red; White/Metallic Dark Grey-Varsity Red. In stores: August RRP: $249.99 www.nikegolf.com.au

How a new 4-wood outperformed my current 3-wood by 27m Richard Fellner richard@insidegolf.com.au

Odyssey Tank

Footjoy DryJoys® Tour Collection Rain Wear The DryJoys Tour Collection Rain Wear provides Tour proven waterproof protection, breathability and maximum comfort during the golf swing. This is achieved through the waterproof stretch panels designed to aid freedom of movement. The DWR (Durable Water Repellency) finish beads off rain for the life of the garment. Available in a Full Zip Jacket and a Half Zip Rain Shirt. RRP: from $249 www.footjoy.com.au

The Tank Putter features weighted components with a calculated balance point for a higher MOI and greater stability through the putting stroke. The conventional length Tank putters have a total club MOI that is 34 percent higher than a standard putter (with a 19 percent increase in total club weight), and the longer options of Tank putters have a total club MOI that is 109 percent higher than a standard putter (with a 32 percent increase in total club weight). Stability weighting and a heavier head and shaft quiet the hands during the stroke to provide consistent control while a double barrel alignment clearly frames the golf ball at address. The added weight engages the big muscles to promote a pendulum stroke that helps keep the wrists from breaking down. Traditionally, MOI has been measured only at the head level, but by weighting all of the components in harmony to dial in a balance point, the team at Odyssey has raised the MOI of the entire club. Tank will be available at retail in July in conventional length options (34” and 36”) and options slightly longer than conventional (38” and 40”). RRP: $219 www.odysseygolf.com/au

During a recent demo session at the Callaway Performance Centre, I took the opportunity to “test drive” the new Callaway X Hot Fairway Wood and see how it compares to my current fairways. Featuring a bunch of new whiz-bang technology (based upon some old-school designs) the X Hot Fairways are making a lot of buzz in the market, and I was keen to see why. While I was expecting to get a slightly better performance with the demo club (new gear is always a bit better), I was completely astounded when I saw the final results on the launch monitor screen. Using the new X Hot Fairway 4-wood (17degree), I was smashing the ball a massive 30 yards (27m) further than my current 3-wood (15-degree). That’s no misprint. 30 yards for one less club. How is this possible? Callaway’s Fitting & Training Manager Matt Tudor explains the ins and outs: “Richard’s swing speed with the new X Hot 4-wood was 92mph. This compares to 87mph with his current fairway. The clubhead speed increased because of the improved aerodynamics of the clubhead and the lightweight shaft. “Richard’s ball speed gained 8mph. This increase saw the X Hot go 30 yards farther and launch at the optimum height. The carry and total distance was a significant improvement. In addition to his increased swing speed, the X Hot has a heavy weighting element inside the head that projects

from the sole toward the face. This lowers the centre of gravity of the head to produce a lowspinning, penetrating trajectory for improved ball speed and greater distance. Hence, more total distance for Richard.” In terms of the technology inside the club, here is the run down, according to Tudor: 1. The face is 40% thinner than its predecessor, Razr X Black. This provides more trampoline effect by the ball staying on the face longer and increasing the ball speed. The sweet spot is also 90% larger. 2. The speed frame face cup is made from 455 Carpenter Steel that’s stronger than traditional stainless steel to generate faster ball speeds. It increases ball speeds across the entire face for longer, more consistent distance. 3. Warbird Sole: Callaway have gone back to the Warbird Fairway wood days which made this sole famous. The weight is relieved out of the heel and the toe of the sole for improved turf interaction out of a variety of lies. 4. The shaft in the X Hot Fairway is the original Project X shaft made by one of the world’s leading shaft manufacturers, True Temper. It is ultra lightweight, which helps enhance club head speed that provides more distance. The verdict? Well, let’s just say that I may be putting a new gamer in my bag very soon. The X Hot Fairway Woods are available in two models: Standard model (slightly larger head and slightly more offset than Pro model) in numbers 3, 4, 5 ,7, 9 & 11. X Hot Pro version (smaller head, less offset) in lofts of 13.5, 15, 17 and 19 degrees. www.callawaygolf.com/au www.insidegolf.com.au | July 2013

gear

New book set to honour the golden age of golf Andrew Crockett is well known in the surfing industry, having published two award-winning coffee table books titled ‘switch-foot’ (2005) & ‘switch-foot II’ (2009). In 2010 he decided to compile a coffee table book on golf and, like his surfing books, he is looking to the elders of the game, the golden era of Australian golf and the pioneers. Titled ‘Bump and Run : At The Feet Of The Masters’ the new book is set to be a treat for Australian golfers, as Andrew explained during a recent interview. What motivated the move from writing surfing books towards writing a golf book? AC: I have done my bit for surfing media, it will always be part of my life. But now is the time to immerse myself in my other passion....the grandest game of them all. Are you a keen golfer, or is this simply a research assignment for you? AC: I don’t think you could be as deep into Australian golf history as I am, without having a keen interest in the game. So yes, very keen and just as mad as the next keen golfer. Where does the passion come from? AC: The passion comes from not wanting to see our history fade. When I talk to a keen golfer and they have no idea what Bill Dunk’s legacy is, or even the great Kel Nagle, it fires me right up, it makes me want to keep going. Even someone like Joe Kirkwood. Sure it might be a long time ago, but I believe he is underappreciated in our golfing world. Bruce Devlin had 16 top-tens in majors, the guy was a gun golfer, but he is a fine gentleman with a world of wisdom. Talking to an intelligent older gent like Peter Thomson, if you can try and step into their world you can really get a feel for what it was like in that era when they were on top of the world of golf. The wisdom they are bestowing to me is incredibly enriching for me as a person and a golfer and I am greatly looking forward to sharing that with the public.

Bruce Crampton, Gary Player, The Von, Trevor Wilkes and Frank Phillips in 1956 at Sunningdale. Inset: Joe Kirkwood interesting because the media often paint him as a Will your golf book be loaded with vintage images, cold character, yet I found him full of warmth and like your surfing books are? AC: I hope the golf book will be very similar the things he shared about the mental side of the to the surfing books, visually and in ethos. It is all game are a blueprint to improve your golf. about the respect for the traditions of the game, with reverence to the pioneers of Australian golf. When do you think the book will be available Visually, my good friend Sketch Holiday (USA) and where? has done some illustrations for the book, there is a AC: I am hoping to launch the book around gamut of old black and white photographs that have the time of the World Cup of golf, in Melbourne. been gathered and the wonderful watercolour art of The World Cup was formerly named the Canada Malvern art institution Robert A Wade. Cup and for those who know their history, Peter Thomson and Kel Nagle won the Canada Cup in Of all the older characters in Australian golf, was 1959 at Royal Melbourne. It was the first time they there a favourite to interview? used the ‘composite course’. The Canada Cup does AC: Joe Kirkwood was a character, but of course feature in book, as do Peter Thomson and Kel Nagle. I never got to interview him. I enjoyed interviewing Melbourne is also artist Robert A Wade’s hometown, every single one of these legends, as I said earlier it so I hope to be there, doing a book launch at the end has enriched my life because they all have a bit of of November. magic about them. Bruce Crampton was particularly More information: www.bumpandrun.com.au •

Hide the Red Dot. Putt Like a Major Champion.

Ticket ballot open for 2014 Ryder Cup The public ticket sales process for The 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles last month moved into the public ballot stage, marking the beginning of a six week period for fans to purchase the highly prized tickets. The 2014 Ryder Cup takes place over six days and encompasses three ‘Practice Days’ – Tuesday September 23, Wednesday September 24 and Thursday September 25 – and three ‘Match Days’ – Friday September 26, Saturday September 27 and Sunday September 28. Golf fans eager to get their hands on a highly-prized Ryder Cup ticket must complete a two-stage process, before applying for tickets. Daily Tickets range in price from a £10 concession ticket for Under 16s on the Practice Days, to £145 for a Sunday ticket, while a range of combined ticket options is also available. Those fans interested in Practice Day tickets can purchase them immediately on a first-come, first served basis, while those fans interested in Match Day tickets have until midnight on Monday July 22 to apply. All Match Day applications will be included in a ballot, with those who have been successful being notified during the week commencing Monday August 12. General Admission tickets for The 2014 Ryder Cup include a photographic image of its owner in order to prevent fraud and ticket transfers. Applicants must therefore register their photograph with Ryder Cup Europe prior to applying for tickets. For more information and how to register for tickets please visit: www.rydercup.com/europe/tickets •

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gear

Hot Wheels From buggies to motorised golf cars and full-service utility/ fleet vehicles, we give you the comprehensive guide to the hottest “wheels” in town. GOLF cars and buggies have come a long way over the years. Gone are the noisy and bulky threewheeled, handle-steered, petrol-hungry cars of yesterday. Today’s vehicles and push carts are sleek, feature-packed machines that make getting your gear around the course simple and fun. This month, we look at the top golf vehicles and buggies to help you get around the course, whether as a single purchase for an individual golfer, or for an entire fleet for a club/course. First, here are a few general tips to buying a buggy or golf car: 1. Push, Electric or Petrol? You have many more choices these days when it comes to cars and buggies. The push-buggy – long the workhorse of the links – offers manual and battery-powered options that suit nearly any need. They are light and compact, and generally very affordable. Golf cars and ride-ons are also highly advanced, but before you buy one you

should ask yourself a few questions. How long, for example, will the unit/vehicle last on a single charge/fill? How and where will you source the power/petrol? Where will you plug it in to charge it? If petrol-powered, then consider the process (and costs) for filling it up. When debating petrol vs electric cars, also consider which type of unit will have fewer repairs and/or maintenance necessary. 2. Your course If you play most of your golf at one course, then remember that some clubs restrict the use of certain buggies/cars, so before you purchase anything, ring up the club and make sure that there are no potential problems. Even some push-buggies can be subject to restrictions (wide wheels/slicks are often preferred for protecting the greens, etc). Also, make sure that your vehicle/ unit is suited to your course (whether it is hilly, or muddy in winter, etc).

3. Dealers and Warranties When buying anything that has a motor/battery (etc) it is always best to go through a dealer (where possible) or a trusted retail outlet/pro-shop. Ensure the unit comes with a warranty. Also, before you buy, investigate the availability and ease (and potential costs) of getting the vehicle serviced or repaired in the future. 4. Storage and transportation Today’s push-carts and battery-operated buggies are light, sleek and ultra compact, making transportation and storage a breeze. As you get to the bigger units, however, things are a bit different. So while a club may have room for a fleet of large vehicles, a lone golfer purchasing a golf car should weigh a few options. Can you store the vehicle at your club? Is there a place for it at home? Is it under cover/protected and secure? How will you get it to/from the course? What is the cost for a trailer? Do you have room for a trailer at home?

5. Test drive the vehicle (for ride-ons) Treat a golf car as you would an automobile. Always ask for a test drive, as there is no better way to evaluate the suitability of the vehicle. Regardless of if it is a new or used vehicle, check that there is enough oomph to get up hills, and enough braking power to slow it down in a hurry. Check the steering for slipping/response, and (for a used vehicle) make sure the wheels, motor and all aspects of the vehicle are in good condition. Make sure that the batteries are new/good, with clean connectors and a good charger. Also, check all wiring, hoses and all moving parts to make sure they are in good condition. Remember, the more research, time and care you take up front, the better your overall experience will be, and the longer your vehicle/ unit will last. That all said, let’s look at the top products on offer in Australia.

AlphArd duo CArt BAG ANd BuGGY IN oNE

The Alphard Duo Cart comes standard with the following:• Any one of 3 removable colour bag skins Red/Black/Navy • Purchase a second bag skin to change colour easily • Umbrella holder • Drinks swivel holder • Bag Hood • One click, Removable wheels • Internal Umbrella storage

See the video on how easy the Alphard Duo Cart is to use http://www.alphardgolf.com/products/demo-videos/

Rec Retail is

399

Available from your local Golf Shop stockists • Trade enquiries welcome Or view the product at www.in2itsports.com.au • Email: sales@in2itsports.com.au www.insidegolf.com.au | July 2013

Golf Cars International 20 Kingston Drive, Helensvale, Gold Coast 4211 Phone: (07) 5529 9499 Email: sales@gcint.com.au www.golfcarsinternational.com.au

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PUSH BUGGIES

Alphard Duo Golf Cart DX When it comes to golf push carts, it’s got to be compact. Alphard Golf think it also needs to be easy to use and enhance the total golfing experience. The Duo Golf Cart offers a simple solution with the innovative integration of the golf bag and push cart, reducing storage space required while offering many other great features to make your game more enjoyable. The system features a straightforward and simple twosteps set up. Simply raise the bag, fold out the handle and you are ready to go. It is also very compact: Folded dimensions are 13” W x 46” H x 18.5 D (equivalent to a regular cart bag). This helps reduce storage space in car or garage, and the all-in-one unit makes transport easy even for golf vacations abroad. A unique feature includes a detachable outer fabric (“skin”). The unit is very ergonomic – height and angle are adjustable via the handle, while the unique varied height base minimizes club clanging. It is also ride cart friendly – wheels assembly are removable. It comes with Swivelling Drinks holder as standard, Umbrella holder as standard, and insulated drinks pocket as standard. Available in 3 Colours - Red, Black & Blue www.in2itsports.com.au sales@in2itsports.com.au

WIN!

Alphard Duo Cart Inside Golf and In2it Sports are giving away an Alphard Duo Cart. To enter, simply visit

in2itsports.com.au/ alphard-promotion.html and fill out an entry form. Winner will be drawn on August 22nd, with the winner announced on August 23rd via the website and via email to all entrants.

Good Luck!

Riksha Big Wheel R-3000 push buggy Enjoyed by Australian golfers at many courses, such as Barnbougle Dunes, Royal Melbourne, Royal Sydney and The Heritage, the Riksha big Wheel buggies are available for purchase online by the individual golfer. The R-3000 model is a light 6.5kgs and the easiest buggy to push over rough or wet areas and undulating fairways. Combined with perfect balance, the 50cm wheels with four premium quality sealed bearings ensure this buggy is effortless to push. The 75mm wide airless tyres leave a lighter footprint than other wheels, allowing them to glide over any terrain. Virtually no maintenance is required as the anodised aluminium frame is strong, durable, and will never rust. The R-3000 can be dismantled within seconds for flat storage in a car boot or at home. The quick removal of four pins allows removal of

the wheels and adjustable handle for easy handling and storage. As it is designed to be pushed, for greatest ease, the Riksha buggy eases body tension resulting in less back, neck and arm strain due to the upright profile. These amazing Big Wheel buggies are now used by a growing number of Australian golf clubs for rental, to the enjoyment of many golfers. Many golfers from around Australia have also purchased the Riksha R-3000 online over the past 12 months, often upgrading from the heavy and unreliable electric buggies. Popular accessories such as a sand bottle and holder, drink holder and a mesh basket are all available to add to the buggy. The R-3000 comes with black or white wheel rims. www.rikshagolf.com.au or phone 1800 159 942

30 DAY

SATISFACTION GUARANTEE OR YOUR MONEY BACK.

GOLF CART SLOWING DOWN? Need new batteries? Don’t replace them… Restore them with the Battery Reviver.

The Battery Reviver can bring old batteries back to life by sending a high frequency pulse through the batteries dissolving the sulphate build up and turning the sulphur crystals back into sulphuric acid. The Battery Reviver is powered by your golf cart batteries and it can be left connected permanently to increase the life of your batteries by up to three times, or used occasionally to restore them.

For more information, pricing and to order visit our website www.batteryreviver.com.au or Phone 1300 852 433

www.insidegolf.com.au | July 2013

gear Triumph Endeavour Big Max Blade Bag Boy Triswivel Push Buggy

Qwik-Fold Supa Compact 3 Wheel Buggy

Bag Boy Triswivel Push Buggy

If your idea of a perfect push buggy is effortless manoeuvrability then the Bag Boy Triswivel Push Buggy is your ideal companion for you and your golf bag. The front wheel swivels 360° for effortless manoeuvrability and can be locked into place by engaging the lock. The Triswivel Push Buggy features a buggy and stand bag-compatible upper bag bracket. As well as an oversized deluxe scorecard holder, handle mounted parking break, a lightweight weather resistant aluminium frame and integrated beverage holder which includes a golf ball, tee and pencil holder. It has high impact wheels with maintenance free tyres, an umbrella holder and an accessories storage bag. The easy 3-step fold makes for compact and convenience storage. Recently winning a Gold Award by Golf Digest USA it continues to prove to be a leader in the market and push buggy of choice for so many as it is user-friendly and reliable. RRP $329 Available in black and white MGI on 1300 644 523 or visit www.mgigolf.com

July 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

Big Max IQ

Qwik-Fold Supa Compact 3 Wheel Buggy

The SHARK Qwik-Fold Supa Compact 3 wheel buggy utilises a patented push button technology to fold or unfold in one second with one press. On the course the sturdy construction is easy to move around with its fully adjustable handle, so your grip is always at a comfortable height. The buggy has low profile wide tyre wheels with precision bearings. Packed with features like the umbrella holder with its own storage clip, foot brake, bungie bag straps, drink holder, and card holder with a built in storage compartment and you’re ready for the course. The buggy folds into a neat small package at only 74cm H x 42cm D x 39cm W. Available in three colours. RRP From $199. Also now available is a deluxe seat that fits all Qwik-Fold 3 wheel buggies at only RRP $79.95 www.sharkgolf.com.au; Sporte Leisure (02) 9693 5777

Big Max Golf Buggies

Ultra-Slim and Ultra-compact, Big Max offer two great new technologies from Europe’s awardwinning buggy brand. At just 12.5cm deep when folded, the categorydefining utra-slim Blade buggy offers storage solutions that no other buggy in the market can match. An award-winner for innovation throughout Europe, the Blade buggy folds down perfectly flat without the need to remove the wheels. This means that the Blade buggy will sit comfortably flat at the bottom of most car boots or even on a parcel shelf kept clean and tidy by its own carry bag. The IQ buggy sets the benchmark for ultracompact 3-wheel buggies. With less than 2 ft. folded height, the IQ deserves its clever name due to a sophisticated and easy-to-use folding mechanism. With new low-profile wheels the IQ is the braniac of the buggy crowd and the perfect companion for clever golfers. For more information visit: www.golfworks.com.au

Triumph Discovery

Triumph Golf Buggies

The latest range of innovative buggies from Triumph Golf feature state-of-the-art design characteristics developed by golfers who understand and listen to what customers want. The Endeavour and Discovery buggies feature a rotating front wheel, allowing golfers to maneuver effortlessly through any terrain with absolute freedom. In addition, they feature an oversized organiser panel, umbrella attachment, low-profile wheels, easy fold mechanism and foot brake. Bonus features for the Endeavour include suspension, padded seat and storage tray. For more information visit: www.golfworks.com.au

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POWERED BUGGIES Parmaker M1 PRO Electric Trolley

Parmaker

M1 PRO Electric Trolley

The newest member of the Motocaddy family, the compact folding M1 PRO electric trolley has been designed to transform your journey to and from the golf course. The new style frame and three-point folding system have been developed to make the folded M1 PRO trolley over 40% smaller than its S-Series counterparts. Boasting a sporty look and eye-catching colour, the twin-tube frame not only allows an 18 hole Lead-acid or 18 hole Lithium battery to remain in its tray when folded, but also features an integrated Accessory Station, an easy-to-use handle height adjuster, plus an inbuilt device cradle, accommodating a wide range of GPS devices which can also be powered from the patented USB charging port. I DEAL FOR : Space conscious golfers looking for a compact folding trolley with great features. Come in two colours Black and White RRP from $999 www.motocaddy.com/au Sporte Leisure 02 9693 5777

Fairway Cruizers FCPRO DIGITAL

Fairway Cruizers FC-PRO DIGITAL

Golf is an endurance activity: every round requires 3 to 5 hours of walking and swinging clubs. Pushing or pulling a manual trolley around the course puts strain on your arms, shoulders and back which impedes your swing, not to mention the energy you use especially on the hilly courses. If you can diminish fatigue and muscle strain you will play a much better round of golf. Fairway Cruizers is a West Australian-based company with a vision to provide golfers with energy-saving technology via the best quality product at an affordable price. Their new FC-PRO DIGITAL lithium power features a combination Power, Performance & Practicality making it one of the best value electric golf trolleys on the market, backed up with local aftersales service, full warranty & spare parts. www.fairwaycruizers.com.au or 0417 093 006

Established in 1979, Parmaker have built their buggies 100% from the ground up in their Melbourne factory. No imported or inferior foreign parts; no snap-together or flimsy components. Just long-lasting, sturdy products that are completely “Australian made” and built to last. Parmaker are so confident in the quality and reliability of their products that they offer a fiveyear extended warranty on all their buggies. For the average golf fanatic, a five-year warranty can mean almost 1,000 games of trouble-free golf (well, trouble-free as far as the buggy is concerned – that wicked banana-slice of yours is another story!) Parmaker offers a variety of motorised buggies and walkers, from the powerful Scout/SE walker models, to the ride-on Spirit/Ghia (three-wheel) and Explorer (four-wheel) vehicles. You can purchase a Parmaker either from their factory or on the internet, and the product range includes a large range of optional extras to make your golf even more enjoyable. A five-year warranty is as low as $69 on a Scout SE, $99 on a Scout and $299 on a ride-on. The warranty covers all parts and labour for units purchased directly from the Parmaker factory (or from parmaker.com). And the warranty itself is as reliable as the

buggy itself. Unlike some warranties that are full of loopholes or escape clauses, if you have an issue with your Parmaker you can either ring the company (small technical issues can often be identified and fixed over the phone) or bring/ send it to the factory. If you bring it in person, most problems are rectified ‘while you wait’. If you aren’t able to visit in person, then simply send it to Parmaker; they will fix it and return it to you ASAP, often within 72 hours. To ensure their products are constantly scrutinised and that research and development opportunities are grasped at every turn, Parmaker has eployed a team of industry experts for each step of the manufacturing cycle. In recent years this level of expertise has led to overall improvements in electronics, lightweight materials and mechanics as well as specific advancements such as downhill brakes on walkers and electronic brakes for ride-ons. They also develop innovations as a result of customer feedback, which has led to improvements like custom-built handles for left or right-handers, electronic controllers that inform you how your Parmaker is ‘feeling’, solid rubber wheels that can’t be punctured and front wheel suspension for rough terrain. www.parmaker.com, or call the factory on 03 9580 7166.

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Full details visit us at www.fairwaycruizers.com.au 52

July 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

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Condor XT ultra lightweight golf buggy

The Condor XT weighs under 9kgs, with the option of a lithium-ion battery making the total weight just under 12kgs. It features an ultra lightweight slimline design and ultra strong magnesium wheels. Auto distance control 10/20/30m and pause function. All metal switches (no weak plastic). Powerful 200w motor and gearbox and controller secretly hidden under the base of the buggy. Detachable front wheel making storage very easy. Simple two fold set up. Seat, sand ring & auto cut off charger included. Price is $450.00 with a SLA battery or $595.00 with a lithium-ion battery including delivery to QLD SOUTH, NSW, VIC, SA, TAS (contact for other areas). www.condorgolf.com.au

Comet RC4 remote control golf buggy

The 2013 model now comes with smooth turning (no more wheel skids), pause button

MGI Navigator G800

Comet RC4 remote control golf buggy

and GEL 12v/36ah battery. Features include a lightweight aluminium frame with large 29cm wheels; 2x powerful 200w motors and tough steel gearboxes; umbrella holder, sand ring, seat, rear anti-tip wheel, auto cut off charger and handset with 60m range. Price is $495 including delivery to QLD SOUTH, NSW, VIC SA, TAS. (contact for other areas). www.condorgolf.com.au

MGI Navigator G800

The MGI Navigator G800 continues to revolutionize golf as you know it with the ultimate addition to your game - a full directional remote control and Eco Electronic System. The all-new remote control allows for forward, left, right and reverse with speed control to your walking speed. With StraightTracker™ technology you can set your buggy in the right direction and it will auto correct to track straight every time no matter the terrain. The lithium ion battery powered buggy is tackling eco-challenges through the groundbreaking addition of a 24volt electronic system.

The Eco Electronic System achieves greater efficiency in power consumption by reducing power loss. The result means the motor works less to produce the same amount of power and increased longevity of your buggy with less wear on the motor. The Navigator G800 features a full colour interactive screen, a rotating front wheel with suspension, and includes Integrated Sureshotgps™ software to ensure you’ll never lose track of the green again. As well as a retractable fourth wheel for added stability and extra ease gliding around the course. The seat contains storage and extra padding for your convenience With a height adjustable rubber ergonomic T-bar handle, a sleek one piece folding design, and weighing 10.4kgs (without wheels) your new buggy will provide luxury and practicality for every game. RRP $2,295 Available in black, silver and dark grey MGI: 1300 644 523 www.mgigolf.com

Rainy Day Golf Accessories

Caddystar GT

The Caddystar GT will transport your buggy bag with ease as the 200w motor powers you around. Folding easily with quick release wheels and freewheeling ability you’ll be away in no time. Take the hassle away with digital electronics featuring a variable speed control so you can get on with your game. With a strong aluminium frame the Caddystar GT will hold from season to season to last you your golfing life. The rounded handle and all weather grip will keep the Caddystar GT in tow throughout rain or shine.You will never be caught lugging it around as the Caddystar GT will let you know when the battery is low via the battery light. A fail safe battery connection will prevent accidental take off.The Caddystar GT will make for the perfect travel companion as it’s extremely light weight (7.6kgs) and folds easily with easy to fold technology. RRP $649 MGI: 1300 644 523 www.mgigolf.com

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July 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

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Highland Golf Cars ... Highland Golf Cars ... Highland Grasshopper DG-CMI - senIor pro Single 36 Volt 1300 Watt Motor Limited Differential Gearbox Hall Accelerator Continuously Variable Speed System - maximum speed 8 MPH (15km/h) Direction Control : Forward - Reverse switch conveniently located on the main control Rack & Pinion Steering Climbing Ability: 1:3 Gradient Leaf Spring with Hydraulic Shock Absorbers Rear Suspension Mechanical Drum Brakes - Stopping Distance <5m Batteries: Three sealed lead acid 12V x 80AH coupled in series (36 Volt) Battery Charger Fully Automatic Pulse Charger Range 50 - 60 km (30 - 40 Miles) Tyres 13” x 6.5” x 6” Turning Radius 3 Metres (118”) Weight 125kg (without Batteries) Carrying Capacity: 150kg

Great compact unit for $3995 Grasshopper se serIes 2 Single Seat Golf Cart. Steering wheel or T handle option. Extremely quiet gearbox. Efficient 24v (2 x 55ah batteries) 800w motor. Curtis (usa) Controller. Smooth plastic covers with vibrant colour. Hill Climbing Capacity – 20 degrees+ Sand Tube, Umbrella holder, Carry basket included. Reverse operation with warning beeper. High back reclining seat with rear bag holder. Auto Cut Off Fan Cooled Charger included.

Great value at $2995

Highland Golf Cars ... Highland Golf Cars ... Highland

1300 90 60 80

www.highlandgolfcars.com.au Unit 2 / 6 Cavendish Street Mittagong NSW 2575

Highland Golf Cars ... Highland Golf Cars ... Highland

WhITe h T speCIaL BranD neW eMC Lights, indicators, split screen, mirrors 10 inch wheels, 48volt - powered by Trojan

a great buy for $6995

paY an

eXTra $1000 For aLL ThIs

BranD neW eMC ‘eLITe’

Brand new and loaded with extras ...Woodgrain dash; mag wheels; lights; indicators; horn. 2 x rear view mirrors

PLUS: FREE factory all weather covers. FREE on-board charger This is definitely a limited offer.

all this for $7995 Highland Golf Cars ... Highland Golf Cars ... Highland

1300 90 60 80

www.highlandgolfcars.com.au Unit 2 / 6 Cavendish Street Mittagong NSW 2575

Golf Cars ... Highland Golf Cars ... Highland Golf Cars

neW CLUB Car precedent i2 We have a full range of 2 seaters and 4 seaters available in stock in a wide range of colours and options.

CaLL ToDaY anD CoMpare oUr prICe

USED PRECEDENTS We have a huge range of

UseD Club Car precedents

in stock. Some with new batteries Big colour choice Petrol and Electric.

starting from just $2695

UnBeaTaBLe EVERY cart is sold with WARRANTY

ALL carts are in SHOWROOM CONDITION No damage to bodywork; no tears in the upholstery ALL carts are WORKSHOP TESTED and SERVICED prior to delivery WE SHIP AUSTRALIA-WIDE

It is recommended you call to inquire about advertised cars as specific products advertised here may have been sold.

Golf Cars ... Highland Golf Cars ... Highland Golf Cars

1300 90 60 80

www.highlandgolfcars.com.au Unit 2 / 6 Cavendish Street Mittagong NSW 2575

Highland Golf Cars ... Highland Golf Cars ... Highland 2006 CLUB Car CarraLL 6 peTroL CaFeTerIa We have just completed a refurbishment and upgrades. The unit has all the necessary H&R Documentation. We can arrange delivery Australia Wide.

BATTERIES

excellent value at $5995

Batteries

for all makes & models The #1Premium Deep Cycle Battery manufacturer in the World

6x 6V = $1250 6x 8V = $1250 4x 12V = $1250 FREE DELIVERY to your front door anywhere in mainland Australia

Highland Golf Cars ... Highland Golf Cars ... Highland

1300 90 60 80

www.highlandgolfcars.com.au Unit 2 / 6 Cavendish Street Mittagong NSW 2575

gear

GOLF CARS

Club Car targets new markets

QUEENSLAND-BASED firm Golf Cars International (GCI) is making the most of the mining boom and interest in agriculture by tapping into these markets. Well known as a master distributor for global leader Club Car golf cars and utility vehicles, GCI earlier this year refocused its strategy by pumping more energy in its commercial arm. Following unprecedented success of its various brands in the Australian marketplace, GCI made a decision to relocate to larger premises at Helensvale on the Gold Coast. The relocation has allowed the company to house its brands under one roof – a move that will help boost after-sale services. The extra space will allow for future growth. Glen Jones, who heads up the commercial division, said he would focus on building on Club Car’s reputation for efficient, high-performance golf, utility and transportation vehicles including golf cars, private transportation, hospitality

vehicles, commercial utility vehicles, multipassenger shuttle vehicles, as well as rough terrain and off-road vehicles. “We have approximately 50 product versions,” Jones said. “We even have some with buckets and forklifts, which are ideal for the mining and farming industries. “Our main focus has always been on golf with Club Car, but we feel it’s time to diversify into new fields especially agriculture and mining,” said Jones, who last month attended FarmFest at Toowoomba. “It’s about moving into new markets and new industries, really. So far, it’s been really good.” Jones said a new range of products were due to hit the Australian market in January. “The products are coming from the factory in Augusta, Georgia where 90 per cent of the world’s golf cars are made,” he said. For many years, GCI has specialised in providing

electric, petrol and diesel vehicles to the accommodation industry. The Australian-owned company, whose shareholders include Ian Baker-Finch and Steve Elkington, will soon open new dealerships to coincide with the company’s expansion. GCI also manages exciting and innovative brands like HDK, which manufactures quality electric vehicles including Australia’s first small folding electric bike. Golf Car Outlet, which specialises in the sale of all brands of pre-owned golf cars and utility vehicles, is its most recent success. According to Jones, GCI has the best after-sales support, service, parts and accessories. GCI are master distributors of Club Car products in Queensland, northern NSW and the Pacific Islands. It also owns and operates a sales and service centre on Hamilton Island. For information, call (07) 5529 9499 or go to www.golfcarsinternational.com.au

Tomberlin E-Merge

What do you get when you cross the love of golf with the love of cars? The Tomberlin E-Merge. This stand-out-from-the-crowd powerhouse of performance and style delivers more features and more fun than any other. Just ask one of the growing numbers of E-Merge owners throughout Australia. Designed to comply with the FMVSS500 (US road regulations) and endorsed by some of the world’s great vehicle designers, the E-Merge offers a range of electric-driven platforms that is tailored to the way you want to play. From the benchmark standard DC 500amp controllers to the Hi Performance 450 & 650 AC controllers, you choose your experience between shots. With unique design fenders, bolstered seats, column control operation, sports decals, standard 10”or 12” deep dish alloys and a range of cool golfing package accessories, all eyes will be in your direction. www.tomberlin.com.au (07) 5510 8084

All Cart Parts

Parts and accessories for all makes of golf carts

23 years industry experience Unit 2/16 Ereton Drive, Labrador 4215 Mobile: 0414 375 027 Phone: 07 5537 5033 Fax: 07 55377015 eMail: allcartparts1@optusnet.com.au www.insidegolf.com.au | July 2013

gear Grasshopper SE Series 2

Condor SS single seat golf cart

The 2013 Series 4 model is now available in twin seat version. Very compact – just 865mm wide. New features are powerful 1200w motor, drum brakes, very quiet transaxle, large 15” wheels/tyres, sports steering wheel, headlights, horn and indicators. With standard hydraulic shock absorbers front and back, alloy chassis, lightweight PVC body available in a range of colours, Curtis controller, 3x deep cycle 12v/80ah batteries & auto cut off fan cooled charger. Price is $4195.00 including delivery to QLD SOUTH, NSW, VIC SA, TAS. (Contact for other areas). Special price for pick up from Rowville (Victoria) Factory. Roof kit available for extra $350. www.condorgolf.com.au

Grasshopper DG-CM1 Senior Pro

July 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

MGI Freedom Machine E30 & MGI Freedom Machine E50

Grasshopper DG-CM1 Senior Pro stop lights & Curtis controller included. Price is $3995.00 plus delivery (if applicable. Contact for quote). www.condorgolf.com.au www.grass-hopper.co.uk

Grasshopper DG-CM1 Senior Pro

Very compact single seater, just 167cm long and 84cm wide. Powerful 1300w motor with extremely quiet/tough transaxle. Leaf spring suspension with hydraulic shock absorbers and drum brakes. 3x 36v/80ah deep cycle batteries with auto cut off fan cooled charger. Roof with 2 piece fold down windshield, lights, indicators, stop lights & Curtis controller included. Price is $3995.00 plus delivery (if applicable. Contact for quote). www.condorgolf.com.au www.grass-hopper.co.uk

Grasshopper SE Series 2

The grasshopper SE features a great design with smooth PVC covers. Large golf coursefriendly wheels/tyres. Comfortable high back fully adjustable seat which turns 90 degrees making it very easy to get on and off. Sports steering wheel with halogen headlight & horn.

Reverse operation with warning beeper. Comes with front basket and rear basket (if not using for golf), golf bag holder, umbrella holder and sand tube. Efficient 24v motor with 2x 12v/55ah deep cycle batteries (upgradeable to 12v/75ah GEL batteries if required) and fan cooled auto cut off charger. Just 134cm long and 75cm wide. Price is $2995.00 including delivery to QLD SOUTH, NSW, VIC SA, TAS. (Contact for other areas). www.condorgolf.com.au

MGI Freedom Machine E30 & MGI Freedom Machine E50

Go your own way with the new MGI Freedom Machine E30 and E50 single seater electric golf carts. With a combination of smart engineering and compact, modern comfort the new MGI Freedom Machines will keep you moving on the green. The MGI single seated, ride-on cart has been designed for complete independence on the course. Giving you the freedom to concentrate more on your own game and keep playing the game you love for longer. The advantage is less money on sharing cart fees and more emphasis on the enjoyment and economic upside of owning your own.

The MGI Freedom Machine E30 and E50 provide the perfect mix of personal comfort and spoilt luxuries created for functionality for the golfer. The premium double zippered rain canopy, two 12v charging points, cooler fridge, sand bucket loop will have you moving in style. Plus added comforts including rubber mats, drink holders, wire carry basket, lights, indicators, horn and of course the purpose built golf bag bracket – all included as standard with MGI. Using eco-friendly, clean 1300w permanent magnetic electric motors, heavy duty leaf spring suspension and shock absorbers, no terrain or slope is too tough for this smooth ride. Combined with a light and tight turning circle, the MGI Freedom Machines ensure a pleasurable, reliable drive every round. You can have peace of mind knowing your MGI Freedom Machine is created by Australia’s leading electric golf company for 20 years. MGI provides the most comprehensive network of service centres for the life of the machine so you can drive with the confidence that only comes with owning an MGI product. From $3,950 including accessories for both units. MGI on 1300 644 523 or visit www.mgigolf.com

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gear And if you need a working vehicle, look no further than the E-Z-GO Terrain. Built for tough territory and hard work – the Terrain is a get up and go sort of vehicle.

Cushman

E-Z-GO

E-Z-GO was founded in 1954 in Augusta, Georgia and has grown into the world’s largest manufacturer of golf and utility vehicles. E-ZGO boasts the largest sales and service network in the industry and has a wealth of resources behind them, to ensure that their products are of the highest quality. E-Z-GO’s current stable includes: The E-Z-GO TXT, which is available in both Freedom (Leisure model which includes lights, indicators and rear seating options) as well as Fleet models, in both petrol and electric options. The E-Z-GO RXV, which is the most advanced Golf and Leisure vehicle available is both highly safe and extremely durable, the RXV is also offered in a Freedom and Fleet option. The E-Z-GO 2Five leisure vehicle is the ultimate in personal comfort. Designed to go where you go, this vehicle is perfect for a round of golf or cruising the estate. The E-Z-GO Express range offers leisure to those who need to take on a bit more than what tarred roads have to offer. Built tough for the road less travelled, these vehicles are perfect for farms to mine sites.

For over a century Cushman has been bringing the world quality utility vehicles, and has become one of the most highly regarded manufacturers in the industry. The sister company to E-Z-GO, Cushman vehicles are manufactured in Augusta, Georgia, in a 650,000-square-foot factory recently honoured as one of the top 10 manufacturing facilities in North America by Industry Week magazine. The company continues to build on its reputation for delivering quality, heavy-duty industrial material carriers and comfortable personnel transport vehicles. Cushman’s line-up includes: The Cushman Shuttle – the perfect personnel transportation vehicle built for commercial and golf turf environments. The Shuttle can also be bought with refresher units that service an array of needs. For hard work on and off the golf green, the Cushman Hauler will see it done. This range of vehicles makes short work of tall orders. The rugged and rough Hauler X will take care of any job. The Hauler with an extra dose of rugged is built for industrial and mining sectors, but will see any job done in any sector. Cushman’s speciality – industrial vehicles— include The Titan, Stock Chaser, Scissors Lift, Tug and Minute Miser. These are all purpose- built industrial vehicles that will save time and money making your life more convenient. If you are looking for a refresher vehicle that will do more for you, look no further than the Cushman Oasis Refresher unit – which can now

be fitted with a Coffee machine on board; perfect for those cold winter mornings. Let your golfers enjoy a unique experience whilst you get to benefit from the additional revenue stream. Serve the items that suit your courses demands. The Oasis Refresher Unit has a large storage capacity – allowing you to carry a wide range of food and beverages as well as limiting the vehicles need to re-stock at the club house as often. The LPG (Gas) powered and thermostatically controlled Food Warmer is safe and easy to use, and provides your customers with a variety of eating options. If you are looking for a food and beverage vehicle that will increase your on course revenue, be sure to contact Augusta Golf Cars for more info.

Bad Boy Ambush

Bad Boy Buggies

Bad Boy Buggies were developed for hunting and were aimed at being rugged, quiet and capable of getting where other vehicles could not. The Bad Boy offering includes: The Ambush – the world’s first Petrol and Electric powered utility vehicle that can operate in 2 or 4 wheel drive. Perfect for many industries. The Recoil and Recoil IS are full time 4WD Electric vehicles that are the personification of tough. With a range of up to 65 kilometres on one charge there is no limit to what these vehicles can achieve. The Instinct - With a 72-volt AC electric drivetrain that offers a range of up to 80 kilometres per charge, the versatile, 2WD Bad Boy Buggies Instinct™ is ideal for covering a lot of ground. For more information visit: www.ezgo.com.au or phone: (07) 3807 8895

Cushman

ACCESSORIES AND BEYOND Trojan batteries

One of the most important features of a golf car— and probably one of the most ignored—is the battery. The battery is the heart of the golf car and can make or break a day on the course. Selecting the right battery and committing to a regular maintenance schedule will ensure that your golf car will carry you through 18 or 36 holes when required. Having basic knowledge of batteries will go a long way in guiding you on selecting the proper batteries. Understanding the various battery technologies, how to select the right battery type, effective maintenance practices & safety precautions are just some of the key factors to ensure the reliable performance of your golf cars day in and day out. With today’s tight economy, the trend when buying batteries is to go cheap. However, cheaper never equals better so investing in a quality battery is your best choice. Not only will you benefit from reliable performance for your golf car you will also get the best return on your investment because a quality made battery will have a longer lifespan. No one wants to replace a battery every couple of years. In the long run, the cheaper battery will cost you more because you have to replace them more often. Deep-cycle flooded batteries are the most appealing due to their low initial cost and long life; however they require periodic “watering” to ensure the health and longevity of the battery. This can be a time consuming and sometimes messy job. For these reasons, it is important that you are willing to commit to a regular maintenance schedule before

purchasing flooded batteries otherwise you are wasting your time and money. To lessen the hassle of watering flooded batteries, watering systems are available that make this process easier. One such system is the HydroLink™ watering system from Trojan Batteries. Over 65% of new golf cars are now sold or leased with watering systems pre-installed on the batteries. Single-point watering systems allow for precise, clean and quick battery watering saving you valuable time and money. If customers would rather not worry about watering batteries and are willing to spend more money for maintenance-free convenience, AGM and gel batteries are other options. Both AGM and gel batteries are considered ‘recombinant’ which means that sealed pressure relief valves force the recombination of oxygen and hydrogen back into water during recharge so that almost no electrolyte is lost, so watering is unnecessary. However, since most golf cars initially come with flooded batteries from the manufacturer, it is important to note that if customers choose to move from flooded to AGM or gel batteries, it will be necessary to replace their golf car’s charger system because AGM and gel batteries require a different charge algorithm than flooded batteries. It’s also important to note that AGM and gel batteries are less“forgiving”then flooded batteries when improperly charged which can lead to reduced battery life. When used in similar applications, and when properly maintained, flooded batteries will outlast AGM and gel technologies. For a free comprehensive Golf Car Battery owners guide email Trojan@alcobatt.com.au www.insidegolf.com.au | July 2013

gear

Highland Golf Cars

Golf Cart Battery Reviver

If you’re suffering from the horrific first world problem of having to walk around a golf course, then you clearly have neglected to check out Highland Golf Cars in Mittagong. You may have noticed the new showroom and workshop in Cavendish Street, showcasing a greater range of new and used golf carts than you can imagine, and certainly the largest display of golf cars outside of Sydney. As a Platinum Dealers for Club Car, EMC and Grasshopper Golf Carts, Highlands Gold Cars offers premium brands at amazing prices. Golf carts these days are more like road vehicles … comfortable, feature filled and affordable. The range available at Highlands Golf Cars offers a plethora of colours and styles to choose from including any accessory you may need. They

trade any golf cart, so now would be the perfect time to trade up to one of these beauties. If you’re looking for a used cart, then Highlands Golf Cars are your one-stop-shop, featuring an extensive selection of preowned, fully reconditioned buggies, all with warranty and many equipped with brand new batteries. And while we’re on the subject of batteries, Highland Golf Cars are leaders when it comes to quality, price and distribution of cart batteries. One of HGC’s specialties is ‘customised’ buggies, including four seat conversions and carts with utility trays fitted. They sell 8x5 tilting trailers for easy transportation, featuring a checkerplate floor, jockey wheel, spare tyre and registration

all included in the one low price of $1795. Highland Golf Cars’ spare parts and accessories range is extensive. From a spark plug to a new windshield, it’s all at HGC. These include brands not generally sold at HGC such as E-ZGO and Yamaha. They service all makes and models as well. They also have a hiring service. At HGC you can choose from a two, four or six seater cart with utility configuration options. Deliver and pickup can be arranged. Highlands Golf Cars take great pride in offering an all-round experience for the golfer. As a family owned business, they are able to give you incomparable personal service and advice. 6 Cavendish Street, Mittagong. www.highlandgolfcars.com.au

1/8 John Lund Drive, Hope Island, QLD 4212

Recently patented in the US the BLS Battery Reviver is a new electronic device that brings dead golf cart batteries back to life, restores functioning batteries to new condition, and keeps batteries from losing capacity and life due to the main cause of battery failure, the build up of lead sulphate. The device can also be used on new or near new batteries to prevent sulphation from building up, this is estimated to triple the life expectancy of the batteries. Using breakthrough square wave technology, the Battery Reviver sends a frequency signal to each crystal of lead sulphate, causing it to dissolve into lead and sulphuric acid. This restores the battery to its original condition. David Northey, the head professional at Castle Hill Country Club in Sydney says: “We tested the BLS Battery Reviver for a week and were surprised at the increased performance we got out of a cart that struggled to make 15 holes. After having the device fitted, by the end of the week the same cart with the same batteries was easily handling 18 holes and still improving. We have now fitted the Battery Reviver to all of our 70 rental carts.” www.batteryreviver.com.au; 1300 852 433

Call: 07 5510 8084 www.insidegolf.com.au | July 2013

seniors

Sylvia keeps on keeping on David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

SHE’S 62 and with more than 50 titles under belt, you could forgive Sylvia Donohoe for starting to slow down just a tad. But, no, it’s full steam ahead for this legendary NSW amateur, who keeps churning out victories and course records. Only last month the talented player from Narooma Golf Club on the NSW South Coast set a new home course record of two-under par 72 – some 45 years after setting her first course record. Her impressive career is littered with course records at not only her home club, but at New South Wales, Avondale, Oatlands, Bonnie Doon, Seabrook, Gungahlin Lakes and Eden golf clubs – to name a few. Sylvia, who plays off scratch, may have more course records than she can poke a stick at, but she has as many – if not more – club championships, state and national titles. In the past 12 years, Sylvia has captured a magnificent seven Australian senior titles and seven NSW senior state titles. She also won the Australian Women’s Senior Order of Merit in 2009-’11-’12. Earlier career wins include the 1983 Sydney City Amateur Championship, 1991 NSW Foursomes (with Edwina Kennedy), Champion of Champions (1992 and 1993), NSW Mixed Foursomes (with Robert Elkington) in 1995, the ACT Ladies Seniors championship in 2009-’10-’11-’12, Women’s World Legends Tour Open Championship (leading amateur in 2007) and 2011 NSW Women’s Senior Order of Merit winner. Indeed, she is legendary in Australian golf circles. It all started at Narooma when “mad keen school teachers” encouraged students to play the game. “Our school overlooked the golf course and we played golf as a school sport,” Sylvia recalls.

The club captain at the time, John Limon, took her under his wing and in 1966 and 1967 she was crowned club champion. Then Sydney’s bright lights and the prospect of playing on Sydney’s famous courses lured her away. “I went to Sydney in 1968 to work for PGF and joined The Australian Golf Club winning the club championship there in 1968, ’69, ’70, ’72 and ’74.” She married in 1974, joined St Michael’s and Bonnie Doon later to concentrate on club golf. That’s when she really started to accumulate club championships. She won 10 club championships at Bonnie Doon between 1982 and 2006 and 17 ladies foursomes titles between 1981-’05. At junior level, Sylvia played alongside and duelled Jan Stephenson and other great players of that era. “I started my junior golf with Jan. We went to South Australia in 1967 and won the NSW subjunior ANA Cup. “She (Stephenson) was a good player – I was ordinary,” said modest Sylvia. “Jan was so far ahead of everyone else, had a good head on her shoulders and was determined and applied herself.” Many good judges believe Sylvia would have made a fine professional, but she thought otherwise. “Back then I didn’t think I was good enough because I hadn’t won a state or Australian title,” she said. “I played against the superstars over the years and beat a lot of good players without winning a title.” Much later, at the age of 39, NSW selected her in the state team dominated by much younger players. Still, Sylvia kept her place on the team for six years. “It wasn’t easy at my age playing with the young ones, but I enjoyed it because I was in the winning team for three years,” she said.

Moss Vale Golf Club is a golfer’s paradise Winter Special

$220 per night for 2 people includes daily: 4 course dinner, breakfast, Accommodation, 18 holes* *Offer based on 2 persons per room in a standard room. Minimum 2 night stay, mid-week only. Valid 1st June 2013 - 30th September 2013.

For bookings at these exclusive rates quote Inside Golf Ph: (02) 4868 1800 | www.dormiehouse.com.au

Sylvia Donohoe with one of the many trophies she has won over five decades. – Photo courtesy Christy Collier (Golf NSW). Once there was a 29-year age gap between Sylvia and 16-year-old teammate Gloria Park. “That is a fair gap in age, but it was good and we worked well as a team.” In 2001, she entered the NSW women’s senior amateur and beat Liz Cavill in the final at Manly Golf Club. “I decided to apply myself to Australian senior golf then and went to Mt Barker Golf Club in South Australia, qualified number one and won the tournament. “In 2002, I won the state senior at Bankstown and the Australian senior at Seabrook in Tasmania where I also set a course record.” Asked about the secret to her success Sylvia said: “There is no secret. I keep myself fit by playing twice a week and just hit it down the middle. “My short game suffers most because I don’t work on it like I should.” When she’s not playing golf, Sylvia works as a volunteer at St Vincent de Paul. “I get plenty of complimentary comments about

my window dressing skills from people who think it’s something I did in my heyday.” The ace golfer and window dresser has managed to score three holes-in-one throughout her illustrious career. “In 1991, I had my first ace on the 16th at Bonnie Doon and in 2007 I had another on the same hole. “In 2008, I had another on the 14th at Narooma while playing the foursomes with my sister. “After I picked the ball out of the hole, I flicked it to her and she hit the next shot in the water and lost it. “When I reminded her it was the ball I had a holein-one with, she said ‘you shouldn’t have given it to me’. “I didn’t expect her to hit it in the drink,” Sylvia laughed. It’s fair to say, retirement has not yet appeared on her radar and, in fact, she is planning another assault on the Australian Women’s Senior at Tanunda Pines in South Australia later this year. “As long as I am fit and healthy I will keep playing,” she said. •

2 Day Golf School at Moss Vale Golf Club Receive expert tuition from club professional Robert Kennedy in all facets of the game, while staying on course at the beautiful Dormie House. Package Includes: • 3 Nights accommodation • Morning tea & Lunch on • 3 Buffet Breakfasts two days • 3 Dinners • Professional Tuition Dates: 23rd – 25th October and 20th -22nd November 2013

Cost: $599 p/p twin share, $699 single

Bookings through Dormie House phone: (02) 4868 1800

*Group sizes are limited to 8 people

www.insidegolf.com.au | July 2013

seniors

NATIONAL

VIC

Albinski leads at halfway point Players have now edged past the halfway mark in the 2013 Australian Senior Ranking competition. Nine of the sixteen events have been completed and the familiar name of Stefan Albinski is once again on top of the table. Albinski (113.7 points) leads with the 2012 Senior Ranking winner Queenslander Peter King (103.4) in second place and NSW senior Denis Dale (103.4) close up in third place. Tasmanian Noel Mills maintains his lead in the handicap competition. After competing in six of the nine events Mills has a total of 65.90 points. Victorian Graeme Altmann (60.40) is close behind and ready to challenge while NSW senior Roy Vandersluis (58.95) is not far away in third place. NSW senior David Limbach broke through for his first Australian Senior Ranking win with an impressive victory in the 2013 NSW Senior Classic. Played at three of Australia’s best courses (The Lakes, The Australian and Avondale) this event attracted a high quality field of senior golfers. Limbach was very consistent with rounds of 77-78-77=232 and was the only player who managed to break 80 in all three rounds on these championship courses. Three strokes behind Limbach in second place was NSW player Paul Maslen (81-78-76=235). Another stroke away in a tie for third place was the NSW pair of Paul Campbell (73-83-80=236) and Ross Bockman (79-85-72-236). The 2013 Northern Territory Senior Amateur Championship was recently played at Darwin Golf Club in conjunction with the Northern Territory Amateur Open. While many of the best younger amateurs were hitting it long and beating par there were 64 seniors also

Ray Walker in dramatic finish at Cobram-Barooga

National Senior Handicap Order of Merit leader Noel Mills doing their best on the challenging Darwin golf course. After the full 72 holes the NT senior champion was Tom Harold from the host club. Harold had rounds of 74-79-75-76 = 304 for a fourteen stroke victory over Tasmanian Neil Faulks with rounds of 76-81-80-81=318. In claiming the title Harold recorded his first Australian Senior Ranking event win. It is hoped he may now be tempted to make the trip to play in other major senior events. The handicap section went to Murray Martin from the Palmerston. During July there will be two national events – the Queensland Senior Amateur at Oxley Golf Club and the 54-hole Gold Coast Senior Championship at Royal Pines (36 holes) and Lakelands (final 18 holes). Following these two events the 12 man team to play New Zealand in September will be announced. Performances in these final two selection events may well decide several positions in the team and keen competition is expected in both tournaments. More information on upcoming national ranking events and full ranking tables available on the AUSOOM website - www.ausoom.com

One of the best events of the Victorian calendar is the Cobram-Barooga Seniors played over 54 holes on the lovely Murray River course. The challenge of the golf course and the wonderful hospitality and tournament organisation always makes this a well-attended event and this year was no different. It also provided a very dramatic finish. Going into the final round, played under ideal sunny conditions on the West course, Guy Krall (Yarra Yarra) and Rick Oliver (Young) held a one shot lead over Ray Walker (Chirnside Park) and Henk Van de Ven (Howlong). After a close tussle all day Van de Ven approached the eighteenth tee with a two stroke lead. Then golf produced one of those finishes that only it can do. A double bogey by Van de Ven against a closing birdie by Walker meant a threeshot turn around on the final hole. At the end it was a one stroke win for Walker over Van de Ven and Oliver. In winning the title Walker had rounds of 77-77-76=230, Van de Ven 82-72-77=231 and Oliver 73-80-78=231. Close up in fourth and fifth place were two previous winners of the event, Bill Banks (Royal Canberra) and Michael Jackson (Yarra Yarra). There seems to be no stopping Yarra Yarra’s Michael Jackson in his effort to claim the 2013 Doug Bachli Trophy for Victoria’s best senior amateur. Victory in the Commonwealth GC Seniors has taken Jackson to a total of 1407 points and he has opened up a large lead over Ray Walker (Chirnside Park) on 1056 points. It looks like a race in two with the third placed Pat Giles (Goonawarra) well back on 721 points. A reminder to all that the famous “Sandbelt Week” is on again in August with senior events at Yarra Yarra, Kingston Heath, Victoria, Royal

2013 Cobram-Barooga champion Ray Walker Melbourne and Metropolitan golf clubs. All these events are on in the one week - seven days of golfing heaven!

Recent Results

Burleigh Seniors – 18 holes Winner: Peter Ferris (Ocean Shores) 73 Handicap: David Downey (Burleigh) 42 pts Women: Lita Perrier (Pacific) 36 pts Paradise Palms Seniors – 18 holes Women only Winner: Pam McGowen (Half Moon Bay) 86 R/Up: Marion Wright (Half Moon Bay) 89 Mt Coolum Seniors – 18 holes Winner: Paranjit Singh (Carbrook) 75 * R/Up: Barry Bowditch (Mt Coolum) 75 R/Up: Trevor Box (Windaroo Lakes) 75 Women: Jean Brkic (Mt Coolum) 84 Full results and details on all future events plus the full Order of Merit tables are available on the Golf Queensland website www.golfqueensland.org.au .

2013 QLD Senior Order of Merit Men 1

Player

Club

Events

Best 8

Brian Kesby

Headland

1025

Trevor Box

Windaroo Lakes

990

Neil King

Nudgee

915

Dave Morrison

Coolangatta Tweed

884

Pranjit Singh

Carbrook

780

2013 Australian Senior Rankings Player

State

Events

Ave.

Stefan Albinski

NSW

113.73

Peter King

QLD

103.43

Denis Dale

NSW

103.33

Roy Vandersluis

NSW

93.00

David Limbach

NSW

90.34

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www.deniliquingolfclub.com Mention this advertisement and play 18 holes for $15, 9 holes for $12 and golf cart hire for $25. www.insidegolf.com.au | July 2013

50 50th anniversary

Ne wb

er y

Happy half century Troppo Tour

v Da y B

1797, David Everett wrote in The Columbian Orator, “Large streams from little fountains flow, tall oaks from little acorns grow”. Fast forward 216 years to 2013 and the line could have been written for the Queensland Sunshine Tour, which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary. From humble beginnings, the Sunshine Tour, affectionately known as the Troppo Tour, now is a major tour in its own right. It’s been a stepping-stone for a plethora of players including Greg Norman, who kickstarted his professional golf career by winning the 1976 Coal City pro-am at Sandy Gallop Golf Club at Ipswich.

Peter Senior, Ian Baker-Finch, Wayne Grady, Randall Vines, Peter McWhinney, Jeff Woodland, John Senden, Rod Pampling, Terry Price, Mike Ferguson, Mike Harwood, Scott Hend et al, too, used the tour as a springboard to world tours. In the early years, a small band of keen club professionals played a handful of events for a couple of hundred pounds. The tour was in its infancy, but word soon spread and more and more south of the Tweed pros starting playing in the Sunshine State. Today the tour is much more lucrative and gives young pros the opportunity to hone their craft in all conditions. “Last year the tour’s prizemoney reached $1.4 million and this year we hope to increase

it to between $1.5m and $1.6m,” said Qld PGA tournament co-ordinator Justin Maker. “We had 51 tournaments last year and this year we are hoping to finish with closer to 60.” One of the tour’s founding fathers, Charlie Earp, said the origins of the Sunshine Tour trace back to the early 1960s. Earp, who was the club professional at Royal Queensland Golf Club, remembers attending a meeting at the Embassy Hotel in Brisbane where then Mackay Golf Club professional Bren Alman put forward a suggestion to start a pro-am tour. “We had a meeting and when it came to general business Bren Alman said ‘why don’t we have a tour of the north’?” Earp recalled.

“Some people at the meeting rubbished the idea and said it wouldn’t work. “At the meeting I remember we couldn’t get a chairman and after an hour we conned Ossie Walker into accepting the position. “After the meeting I said to Ossie, ‘Bren’s idea of taking tournaments to the towns is a good one’. “Ossie said, ‘if you think it’s such a good idea you do it’. “So PGA secretary Jack Gillen, Paul King, who was the club professional at Cairns before moving to Wynnum Golf Club in Brisbane, and I got stuck in and formed the tour. “We played three tournaments – Mackay, Townsville and Cairns – and they were very successful.”

Madang Magnetic island Mango Hill Mareeba MaryborougH Mcleod MiddleMount Mirage Port douglas MoranbaH MossMan Mount isa Mt. cooluM Mt. Warren Park MulluMbiMby Mundubbera MurWilluMbaH Mystic sands naMbour nanango noosa Par 3 noosa sPrings noosa Valley nortHlakes nudgee ocean sHores oxley Pacific Pacific Harbour PalM coVe PalM MeadoWs Paradise PalMs Paradise sPrings ParkWood Pelicon Waters Peregian sPrings Pine riVers Pioneer Valley PittsWortH ProserPine redcliffe redland bay riVerlakes robina Woods rockHaMPton roMa roseWood roWes bay royal Pines royal Port Moresby royal Queensland sandgate sandy galloP seaTheteMPle soutHPort stantHorPe stradbroke island surat surfers Paradise PGA sincerely thanks the golf clubs, sponsors, taMborine Mountain terranora lakes teWantin-noosa gladescommitment tHe links tieri tin can bay tooWooMba administrators and volunteers tHe for their to the QLD Sunshine overgreens the lasttWin 50 years. city tooWooMba Middle ridge toWnsVille tullyTourtWeed Waters Victoria Park Virginia WantiMa WarWick WeiPa WHitsunday laguna Quays WilloWs Windaroo Wondall Woodford WynnuM yaMba yePPoon 70

July 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

50th anniversary

Greg Norman

A handful of mostly golf club professionals including Jack Brown, Doug Katterns, John Collins, Robbie Gibson and Ossie Walker took part in the expedition. Earp and his good friend King worked around the clock to ensure its success. “We were better organised the next year and expanded the tour to different towns and it just got bigger and bigger,” Earp said. “Then the boys (professionals) from New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia came into it,” Earp said. “It expanded quickly and we even went to Papua New Guinea (in 1963). “The Von (Norman von Nida) came to New Guinea a few years later when I was the chairman.”

According to Earp, prizemoney for the first tournament at Mackay was £250 with winner Jack Brown taking the biggest share, £63. Eleven players received a cheque ranging from £63 down to £5. King said more golf clubs including Alice Springs, Mt Isa and Darwin joined the circuit in ensuing years. “In 1966, I won the Darwin Open and I think Tim Woolbank finished runner-up,” King said. “There were about 30 pros on the tour including Ted Ball and Wally Godfrey from New Zealand. “We even stopped in at Mt Isa where a tournament hadn’t been organised but the club rallied around, raised $200 and put on a nine-hole event for the pros. “After I won in Darwin we went to Cairns to play and then I flew back to Brisbane and my

assistant professional Randall Vines played the rest of the tour and won every tournament coming back down the hill. “He won the lot – Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, South Molle Island, Rockhampton, Maryborough and home.” By now, the tour was humming along and local communities were starting to embrace the concept. Earp said the club professionals worked extremely hard promoting the tournaments within the community. “Townsville Golf Club pro Arnold Victorsen was a big help, the people at Mackay Golf Club did a great job and so did John Hadley, who was the pro at Cairns after Paul (King) went to

Wynnum,” Earp said. “South Molle Island was one of the first to come on board thanks to Wally Baeur.” Earp and King had big ideas with thoughts of a national circuit. Queensland was in full swing, New South Wales and Victoria had joined in with Western Australia and South Australia in their sights. They believed the tour would be a boon for tourism. “We thought the tour was great for tourism and we worked our butts off promoting the towns and regions,” Earp said. Oftentimes, Earp and King had to pay their own out of pocket expenses, but they didn’t mind as long as the tour was successful. 

ALANGULA GROOTE EYLANDT ASHGROVE ATHERTON AYR BALLINA BANORA BARCALDINE BARGARA BEAUDESERT BEERWAH BILOELA BLACKALL BLACKWATER BOOMERANG FARM BOONAH BOWEN BOYNE ISLAND BRIBIE ISLAND BRISBANE BROOKWATER BUNDABERG BURRUM DISTRICT CABOOLTURE CAIRNS CALLIOPE CALOUNDRA CAPRICORN COUNTRY CLUB CAPRICORN RESORT CARBROOK CARDWELL CASINO CHERRIBAH RESORT CHINCHILLA CLERMONT COLLINSVILLE COOLANGATTA-TWEED HEADS COOLUM COOROY CORAL COVE CRAIGNISH DALBY DYSART EMERALD EMERALD LAKES FRASER LAKES GAILES GAINSBOROUGH GREENS GAYNDAH GLADSTONE GLENDEN GOLD COAST BURLEIGH GOLD COAST COUNTRY CLUBTheGOONDIWINDI GOVEof ourGYMPIE past, present GORDONVALE and future stars game HALF MOON BAY HEADLAND HELENSVALE HERVEY BAY HOPE ISLAND HORTON PARK HOWESTON commend the individuals who haveINDOOROOPILLY contributed INGHAM to theJINDALEE QLD Sunshine since DOWNS 1963. KEPERRA KINGAROY INNISFAIL IPSWICH IPSWICH COUNTRY CLUB JANDOWAE KABITour KARANA KOORALBYN LAE LAGUNA QUAYS LAIDLEY LAKELANDS LAVARACK LISMORE LOGAN CITY LOWOOD MACKAY www.insidegolf.com.au | July 2013

50th anniversary It was a huge task for these forward thinkers and the PGA decided it was too big for club pros to organise and appointed a full-time tournament director. Henry Shaw was responsible for growing the tour nationally, but things stalled somewhat when his push for bigger purses failed to gain traction. “Henry wanted to put the prizemoney up too far,” Earp explained. “We were playing for £2000 and Henry worked it out that it cost us £4000 to get all the players to the venues. “He wanted to raise the prizemoney and Alice Springs, Darwin and South Australia went dull on the idea and it all changed and came back to Queensland only. “That was in the late 1970s and early 1980s. “Then John Downs, who later became the pro at Nudgee Golf Club, was appointed tournament director and he worked his butt off to grow the tour. “He later became chairman (PGA Qld), but he did a bloody good job along with his mates – the Gradys and Fergusons.” Downs became heavily involved in raising the profile of the Sunshine Tour in 1979. “The pro-am circuit was very quiet in the late 1970s,” he said. “We only had about 15 events. “Anyway, I was working for Denis Brosnan, who had 30 or 40 (country) clubs we’d service and give lessons to the members,” he said. “I used to travel to all the towns teaching and none of them had a pro-am. Mundubbera was the first one I went to and I put the idea to them and it snowballed from there. Then Gayndah had one and then Biloela. “I used to jump in the car in February and go away for five or six weeks. I would put the idea to the clubs and then put the circuit together. “We were lucky because we had Ian Baker-Finch, Peter Senior, Wayne Grady, Gerry Taylor, Mike Harwood, Peter Fowler, Mike Ferguson, John Dyer and Peter McWhinney. “They were all good blokes, very socialiable and liked to party with the members. “We were fortunate because we had Peter Senior and a few others who were the real golfers.” At times, the pros were on the road for three months. “In 1979, I remember Emerald had a pro-am and only had 16 pros playing,” Downs said. “The club captain was a bit worried about it because they had a stack of amateurs playing so I said, ‘that’s okay, we’ll play 36 holes – 18 in the morning with one group and 18 in the afternoon with another group. “The Mt Isa Open was a big event in those days and even had Greg Norman play one year. “That was in the 1970s when they played for $25,000, which was serious money. “Middlemount used to have a big event and in about 1983 they put on $25,000 so we chartered a plane from Brisbane.

didn’t move. “There was a lorry load of pigs in front of us and they were starting to die. “That’s how bad things were. “We had to be in Cairns the next day for a civic reception and a parade through the streets and we arrived just in time. That’s how big John Hadley and Charlie Griffiths made the tournament up there.” Queensland professional John Collins, arguably one of Australia’s best ball-strikers of that era, too, has fond memories of the tour in the early days. “We were just a bunch of young guys going away and playing in tournaments up north and over to Port Moresby,” Collins said. “We travelled with some of the older, experienced pros like Doug

There was a lorry load of pigs in front of us and they were starting to die. That’s how bad things were. Ian Baker-Finch “That was a good event. Peter Senior beat McWhinney in a playoff with an eagle on the first playoff hole.” Weipa, too, put up $25,000 and flew in big guns Ted Ball and Billy Dunk, but Senior was again victorious. “In those days, pro-ams were a new product and that’s what attracted the clubs,” Downs said. “There were only 25 or 30 of us so everyone mixed in well together and we’d stay with club members most of the time. “We would go back every year – it was good fun and we had some wonderful moments and it was all good golf as well. “People have managed to keep lifelong friends from those early years.” Downs said when he relinquished the role and handed over the reins to full-time tournament co-ordinator Peter Egan more than 80 clubs were hosting pro-ams. Yes, the Troppo Tour certainly has had a colourful history and almost every professional who has played the tour has a story to tell including Earp. “I can remember Margie (wife Margaret) and I had to go up to Cairns in the early days and there was a flood at Connors Creek (near Mackay),” Earp said. “It was in June 1966 and it bucketed down. “We sat in the car outside Connors Creek for 26 hours and

Katterns (Keperra). “They were good days and it was a time when the guys used to say, ‘what room is the poker game in’. “It was the old boys like Doug (Katterns) and a couple of others who taught us to play poker.” Don “Bronco” Johnstone well remembers the card nights. “We were always playing cards,” he said. “We used to have a card game every Tuesday night at Johnny Klatt’s or Charlie Earp’s or my place. “One time we were flying to Port Moresby to play and were playing cards on the floor of the DC3 aircraft. “One of the pilots walked out to talk to us and then the second pilot walked out and someone said, ‘who’s flying the plane’? “They said, ‘George’. No one was in the cockpit – the plane was flying on its own towards PNG.” Johnstone recalls one trip to Cairns when the pilot had a little fun with the golf pros aboard. “We were about 40 minutes late leaving Townsville and as we walked out to the aircraft the pilot was looking up at a bloke’s bum sticking out of the Fokker Friendship’s engine. “He said, ‘hmmm, I don’t know how I am going to get this aircraft to Cairns’. “Well, you should have seen some of the young pros – they went white. “In those days, we used to land at Ingham, Innisfail and Cairns.

Madang Magnetic island Mango Hill Mareeba MaryborougH Mcleod MiddleMount Mirage Port douglas MoranbaH MossMan Mount isa Mt. cooluM Mt. Warren Park MulluMbiMby Mundubbera MurWilluMbaH Mystic sands naMbour nanango noosa Par 3 noosa sPrings noosa Valley nortHlakes nudgee ocean sHores oxley Pacific Pacific Harbour PalM coVe PalM MeadoWs Paradise PalMs Paradise sPrings ParkWood Pelicon Waters Peregian sPrings Pine riVers Pioneer Valley PittsWortH ProserPine redcliffe redland bay riVerlakes robina Woods rockHaMPton roMa roseWood roWes bay royal Pines royal Port Moresby royal Queensland sandgate sandy galloPTheseaPGAteMPle soutHPort stantHorPe stradbroke island surat surfers Paradise sincerely thanks the golf clubs, sponsors, taMborine Mountain terranora lakes and teWantin-noosa tHe links tieri tin can bay tooWooMba administrators volunteers fortHe theirglades commitment the toWnsVille QLD Sunshinetully Tour tWeed over thegreens last 50tWin years. city tooWooMba Middle toridge Waters Victoria Park Virginia WantiMa WarWick WeiPa WHitsunday laguna Quays WilloWs Windaroo Wondall Woodford WynnuM yaMba yePPoon 72

July 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

50th anniversary “He flew in to Ingham, raced the aircraft to the terminal and had it back in the air in about 10 minutes. He did the same at Innisfail and then flew from Innisfail to Cairns at low altitude. “When we got near Cairns he said, ‘fasten your seatbelts, I want to show the golf professionals aboard Royal North Queensland Golf Club in Cairns’.” The low-flying exercise gave the pros a bird’s eye view of the golf course. “The hosties said, ‘what is this stupid pilot going to do now’? “Then we shot over to the airfield and landed. The funny part about it was afterwards we were standing outside the terminal talking to the pilot. “One of the young blokes, who wanted to take a photo from the air, said, ‘what height were we at’ and I said, ‘about 500 feet wasn’t it? “He (pilot) didn’t realise the chief controller was standing behind him and said, ‘no we are not allowed to fly under 1500ft’. “The controller shook his head and walked away. “The young bloke never took the photo because his head was down on the floor and he couldn’t move.” For the travelling band of professionals, it was just as hair-raising on the ground. There were a few near misses on the highways and byways as the pros trekked to far-flung corners of Queensland and beyond. “Often we travelled by car,” Johnstone said. “I had a red and white Falcon and Charlie and I left Mackay with John Collins and John Klatt in a Valiant, I think. “They’d left earlier than us and Charlie said he would drive the first leg and I said, ‘okay, we should be able to catch up with them. “We came to a low bridge and as we approached there was dirt on the approach to the bridge. “Well, the car went into a slide, sideways and I looked straight down the bridge from the passenger seat and thought, ‘that’s it’. “How we got across I’ll never know. “I said to Charlie, ‘how did you do that’ and he said, ‘I have no idea’. “We had a few close shaves driving, but they were good days.” The tradition continued through the decades with food fights on wheels, big game hunting, wild parties and more. These stories will be told in a 50th anniversary book being written by Bernie Pramberg and due out later this year. Anyway, according to Earp, pro-ams were not only responsible for putting golf on the map in regional Queensland, but it unearthed plenty of talented young amateur golfers. “That’s why we have golfers like Karrie Webb today,” Earp said. “Karrie, Corinne Dibnah, Mike Ferguson and many other country kids came along to the clinics. “Kids wanted to be around us all the time to learn how to play the game.” That tradition has continued down the years as parents and grandparents introduce their offspring to golf clinics at pro-am tournaments. The late Bren Alman might have sparked the idea for the tour but

FOUNDING FATHERS: Charlie Earp (right) and Paul King were there when Queensland’s Sunshine Tour teed off 50 years ago and are still reminiscing about the tour’s success. Earp, King, Downs and others worked tirelessly to ensure its success. Alman, who started his 39-year career at Mackay Golf Club in 1949, was passionate about developing golf in the north. He helped design golf courses at Proserpine, Brampton Island and Pioneer Valley and conducted countless coaching clinics around the region. “I worked hard to promote professional golf in the north,” he told me from his home in Perth in 2000. “In the early days I raised the money for tournaments at Mackay and along the coast to try and get the standard up. It certainly was a talking point in the towns. “I loved visiting the little clubs and did a lot of teaching from South Molle to Bowen, Proserpine, Collinsville, Moranbah and Sarina. “I have some great memories to look back on.” For the record, Dysart Golf Club has the honour of hosting the most number of consecutive pro-ams. This year the Central Queensland club will host its 35th consecutive pro-am – one ahead of Howeston Golf Course. Happy birthday and many happy returns.

Do you have a pro-am story? TO celebrate the Queensland Sunshine Tour’s 50th anniversary this year, journalist Bernie Pramberg is writing a book entitled ‘Going Troppo’, which will be released later this year. Any information, stories or photographs relating to the Troppo Tour would be welcome and can form part of the book. The book will be jam-packed with some wonderful stories as well as humorous anecdotes from many of the players. If you have a pro-am story (funny or serious) to tell, please contact Bernie directly on bpramberg1@hotmail.com

The Queensland Sunshine Tour forms part of the Choice Hotels PGA Pro-Am Series.

ALANGULA GROOTE EYLANDT ASHGROVE ATHERTON AYR BALLINA BANORA BARCALDINE BARGARA BEAUDESERT BEERWAH BILOELA BLACKALL BLACKWATER BOOMERANG FARM BOONAH BOWEN BOYNE ISLAND BRIBIE ISLAND BRISBANE BROOKWATER BUNDABERG BURRUM DISTRICT CABOOLTURE CAIRNS CALLIOPE CALOUNDRA CAPRICORN COUNTRY CLUB CAPRICORN RESORT CARBROOK CARDWELL CASINO CHERRIBAH RESORT CHINCHILLA CLERMONT COLLINSVILLE COOLANGATTA-TWEED HEADS COOLUM COOROY CORAL COVE CRAIGNISH DALBY DYSART EMERALD EMERALD LAKES FRASER LAKES GAILES GAINSBOROUGH GREENS GAYNDAH GLADSTONE GLENDEN GOLD COAST BURLEIGH GOLD COAST COUNTRY CLUB GOONDIWINDI GORDONVALE GYMPIE HALF MOON The past, present and future GOVE stars of our game BAY HEADLAND HELENSVALE HERVEY BAY HOPE ISLANDcommend HORTONthePARK HOWESTON INDOOROOPILLY individuals who have contributed INGHAM the QLD Sunshine Tour since 1963.KEPERRA KINGAROY INNISFAIL IPSWICH IPSWICH COUNTRY CLUB JANDOWAEtoJINDALEE KABI KARANA DOWNS KOORALBYN LAE LAGUNA QUAYS LAIDLEY LAKELANDS LAVARACK LISMORE LOGAN CITY LOWOOD MACKAY www.insidegolf.com.au | July 2013

pga igi

Interested in a career in golf?

Qld PGA returns to Toowoomba

THERE’S no better place in Australia to start your career in golf than the PGA International Golf Institute (PGA IGI) now based at Sanctuary Cove on Queensland’s Gold Coast. The PGA IGI offers education through its combined curriculum of business courses and golf skills to prepare you for a career in the golf industry. Whether you’re interested in a playing career, a coaching career, or a career in administration (General Management, Golf Operations), PGA IGI programs and courses will assist you in getting there. The PGA IGI prepares its graduates for a career in the business and management of golf as an industry. Owned by the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) of Australia, the PGA IGI has an articulation agreement with Griffith University which provides the diversity to choose different career pathways and opportunities for elite athletes, coaches and administrators in the golf industry and related business sectors. Their golf-focused business qualifications are highly regarded by the industry, and are

The PGA Tour of Australasia has confirmed it will return to the City Golf Club in Toowoomba for the 2014 QLD PGA Championship. To be played from the 13–16 February 2014, the QLD PGA Championship will again bring some of Australia’s leading Tour Professionals to the Toowoomba region. “Toowoomba has always been a big supporter of Professional golf so we are delighted to once again return to the area,” said Brian Thorburn, CEO of the PGA. “We have seen some fantastic golf played at the City Golf Club, including Brad Kennedy’s win this year, and I’m sure the Pros will thrill crowds again in 2014.” City Golf Club President Ed Britnell said the club was delighted to again host the PGA Tour of Australasia tournament. “We are pleased to be the home of the QLD PGA Championship knowing the impact it has on the golfing community and indeed our members. We all look forward to hosting some of the past, present and future stars of the game of golf and as has done previously, the tournament will no doubt be bigger and better in 2014,” he said. Cr Paul Antonio, Mayor of Toowoomba Regional Council added: “Hosting prestigious events such as the CocaCola QLD PGA Championship in our region helps to build a vibrant and dynamic community. A community we can be proud of and one which presents opportunity and diversity.” Former Champions of the QLD PGA Championship at City Golf Club include PGA TOUR player Steven Bowditch (QLD), four time PGA Tour of Australasia winner Gareth Paddison (NZ), Toowoomba local Andrew Tshcudin (QLD) and Japan Tour winner Brad Kennedy (QLD). •

July 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

increasingly recognized as the best in the business. They regularly liaise with golf industry experts to ensure that their curriculum and training provides the skills and learned outcomes that make their graduates employable. The main benefit for all employers is that their graduates become an asset for your business. The PGA IGI facilitates a number of career pathways including the PGA Traineeship, Tour School, University, or Industry outcomes. There are many benefits to the PGA IGI. All programs articulate into each other – ensuring you are able to move into more advanced qualifications if you choose. Program fees are all inclusive– including course access membership, driving range access, competition fees, uniforms and reading texts. They also now have vocational education and training (VET) fee help so that Australian students no longer have upfront fees. If you really want to earn Australia’s best qualifications recognized within the golf industry now you can. So which program is right for you? Along with their partners, PGA IGI offers a variety of

programs and courses from a VET level, through to a Higher Education level.

Programs and Courses include: • Australia’s only Diploma of Golf Management from PGA IGI which articulates into a Bachelor of Business majoring in Sport, Event, Tourism or Hotel Management (Griffith University) –3 years; • A Diploma of Golf Management – 1 year; • Elite Golf Program (Certificate III in Sport: Career Oriented Participation International students only) – 1 year; and • English – Golf for International students only. All their coaches are recognized golf professionals with a minimum AA rating while a variety of classes are conducted by industry professionals. The PGA IGI recognizes prior learning and is endorsed by the PGA of Australia–a unique benefit of the PGA IGI. More information: (07) 5657 6109, jmadden@pga.org.au or www.pgaigi.com •

west australian golf

Best in the

WEST

From Seaside links to Country layouts to Red-Earth marvels, Western Australia offers a wide variety of the country’s best golf

OUR regular trip to WA is quickly becoming one of our most treasured golfing treks. The weather is almost always perfect, the accommodation is comfortable and inviting and the golf is simply spectacular. And while WA may seem a world away from the East Coast, the trip is surprisingly quick and easy; after catching a morning flight, you arrive in Perth around lunchtime, which gives you plenty of time for a quick 18 straight away! Whether it’s for a short golf break with mates, a family holiday or a full-fledged golf vacation, you owe it to yourself to “Go West” and encounter some of Australia’s best golf. There are heaps of great facilities in WA. Here are some of our favourites.

Kalgoorlie Golf Course

No Nomination Memberships Now Available*

Golf as nature intended

For more information on memberships please contact: members@msgcc.com.au

Course design by Robert Trent Jones Jnr

Meadow Springs Golf and Country Club Meadow Springs Drive, Mandurah WA 6210 Bookings (08) 9581 6360 www.msgcc.com.au golf@msgcc.com.au *For a limited time

www.insidegolf.com.au | July 2013

west australian golf

The Links Kennedy Bay

Wembley Golf Course The Links Kennedy Bay Nestled near the seaside town of Rockingham, The Links Kennedy Bay is a superb facility set amongst rolling sand dunes. 1991 British Open champion Ian Baker-Finch collaborated with architects Michael Coate and Roger Mackay to create an exciting and difficult links-style course among the area’s natural bushland. The terrain at Kennedy Bay makes for some magnificent scenery, with the occasional glimpses of the ocean in the distance. The area is very reminiscent of Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, while the gentle (or sometimes not-so-gentle) sea breezes add to the allure. What really grabs most golfers about the course are the extremely deep and narrow fairway pot bunkers. There is only one word to describe these nightmarish creatures: penal. These are the way bunkers were MEANT to be. In most cases, if you find a fairway bunker at Kennedy Bay, your only option is to ‘take your medicine’ with a 9-iron or

wedge. Automatically add 1 stroke to your score if you hit into one of these little buggers (oh, and they are strategically placed everywhere that golf balls tend to congregate.) Each hole on the course is given a name suited to the specifics of the hole itself, like “Thread the needle”, “Sunrise”, “Temptation” and the bluntly named “Hell”, which is an apt name for the 520-metre, par-5 fourth that features a replica of the infamous Hell’s Bunker at the 14th hole of the Old Course, St Andrews. There’s even one named “The Doctor”, which pays tribute to “The Fremantle Doctor”, the locals’ term for the cooling afternoon sea breeze which occurs during summer months. The greens are all very challenging, with multiple slopes and swales. They are magnificent surfaces, and they are extremely slick and true. Overall, it’s a great course to add to your must-play list. The Links Kennedy Bay also has some fantastic membership packages available (See the ad in this feature for more information)

Contact: Ph: (08) 9524 5991 Email: admin@kennedybay.com.au www.kennedybay.com.au

Wembley Golf Course Just a few minutes’ drive from the Perth CBD, Wembley Golf Course is one of Australia’s most popular public golf facilities. With 36 tree-lined holes on gently undulating terrain, the course features two courses (the Old and Tuart) and is home to one of the best practice facilities in Perth. The Swing Driving Range features an 80-bay fullyautomated driving range (automatically teeing up a ball every 6 seconds), dedicated teaching bays, indoor fitting room (with all the leading brands available) SAM Putt Lab and Track Man Launch monitor plus HD camera systems linked to Dartfish teaching software.

To back this up there is a dedicated short game area plus grass teaching tees and fairway bunkers. 8 PGA professionals are available seven days a week. The Swing View Function room located on the second level of the driving range is a great venue for corporate events, with sweeping views of the Perth skyline and golf course. This is all backed up by onsite physiotherapy, chiropractors and gym. It really is a facility where golfers of all levels can find something to improve their game. The hub of all this activity is the Golf Shop, which has to be one of the best on-course pro shops we’ve seen. Well stocked and large enough to handle the busy nature of the facility. The two courses at Wembley are very playable parkland courses, working there way through areas of Tuart and Jarrah trees. The Tuart course is slightly tighter off the tee with greater elevation changes. Both courses offer a very good public access golf experience, with bent grass greens and very good

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Meadow Springs

The Cut

MANDURAH’S GOLFING PARADISE COMES AT A GREAT PRICE Only 50mins south of Perth, the Mandurah region is home to seven world glass golf courses including The Cut, Meadow Springs Golf & Country Club and Secret Harbour.

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west australian golf

Kalgoorlie Golf Course

Meadow Springs Golf & Country Club kikuyu fairways, which is a credit to the ground staff considering they average 165,000 rounds a year. It seems like Wembley continues with improvements, as we noted several new tees being constructed during our visit. In addition, Wembley continues to offer great incentives for children to play golf. They play free with a paying adult during twilight golf (maximum three children per group) and the kid’s free afternoon continues to be a great success with 40-50 kids attending. Generally held on the last Sunday of the month, at no charge, children are given one hours’ tuition on the range with four PGA pros followed by an hour on the golf course. It’s a great environment for the kids to get into the game of golf. Contact: Phone (08) 6280 1300 Email: info@wembleygc.com.au www.wembleygolf.com.au

Meadow Springs Golf & Country Club Thirty minutes south of Perth, near the coastal town of Mandurah, Meadow Springs Golf & Country Club is one of Perth’s most underrated surprises. The “sister course” of Joondalup, Meadow Springs features much of the same scenery and hole layouts as its famous sibling, albeit without the hills and rock quarries. At a recent visit, we were pleasantly surprised at the quality of the entire facility. The greens were extremely soft (with plenty of bite on approach shots), yet they were as fast and true as any course we played in WA. This is a rare feat, and makes the course a pleasure to play. The quiet, secluded parklands-style course feels a world away from civilisation. With few parallel holes, you can feel like the only players on the course, which adds to the tranquillity and enjoyment. Measuring 6189m from the blues, the course

offers a good selection of long and short holes. The par-5s range from 460m to 503m, but getting home in two is no easy task for any of them. The course is guarded by plenty of bunkers, native trees, and a very thick/dense couch rough – which can swallow your ball and make it nigh impossible for a clean shot. That said, the fairways are generally wide enough to avoid trouble. That is, except for the very tight 5th and 6th, which require you to drive your ball through a tight “tunnel” of trees. The course features some really strong par-3s, including the 160m 8th which requires a solid teeshot over a massive lake. This little gem is followed by the 396m par-4 9th, which is guarded by an even larger lake on the right. You need a solid drive to clear the first part of the lake, or else you’ll be stuck in the thick couch rough, with little chance of getting home in two. Overall, we were very pleased with Meadow Springs, and would highly recommend it.

Contact: Ph: (08) 9581 6360 Email: golf@msgcc.com.au www.msgcc.com.au/

Kalgoorlie Golf Course

Kalgoorlie Golf Course is an absolute gem, and may very well be one of the most “Australian” courses you will ever play. Designed by Graham Marsh, and owned by the city of KalgoorlieBoulder, this 18-hole par-72 championship course features an extremely playable layout, set in one of the most magnificent settings in the country. With six different tee boxes, Kalgoorlie is playable for any–and I mean ANY–skill level. Played from the black tees, the course measures a staggering 6768m, making it one of the longest courses (if not THE longest) in Australia. The “public” tees are a more manageable 5933m, while

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The Vines

The Vines other tees are available for members, ladies and even juniors. Most of the holes are quite straight and wide, meaning that you’ll be relatively safe to hit driver throughout the day. But that doesn’t mean the holes are easy; on the contrary, they are anything but. A few of the doglegs – notably the par-4 12th – will require careful club selection and course management if you want any hope of par. The same can be said for holes like the par-5 9th, which features a massive (yet narrow), threetiered green that slopes from front to back (i.e. AWAY from you), and is guarded by a deep pot bunker on the front-right. If the pin is cut on the first/front tier, prepare for an automatic 3-putt. The par-3s at Kalgoorlie are glorious, especially the 218m 8th. With a slightly raised green, strategic bunkers and plenty of danger on each side, it’s the type of hole that can destroy a scorecard. Especially if the wind is in your face. Same with the 202m 17th, which features its own selection of nightmarish bunkers. The par-5s are equally strong. All four of them

are solid three-shotters, including the monstrous 15th. Nicknamed the “Golden Mile”, this 569m beauty features a blind second shot, a massive ravine along the right, bunkers at every turn and a very treacherous green. A par here feels like a birdie. Of course, the main feature of Kalgoorlie GC is the red earth surrounding the course. It not only “frames” the course in a stunning visual display, but it also provides a notorious hazard for wayward shots. Playing off the red earth is akin to a soft clay, and requires plenty of practice to master (I had plenty of practice during the round!). The same can be said for the various orange-coloured “waste bunkers” throughout the course: pretty, but deadly. The sparse surrounds beyond the rough means you’ll likely find your wayward shots. But it’s a hollow victory, as the numerous prickly desert shrubs and bushes provide their own layer of peril; it is nigh impossible to play out of many of them. Also, much of the course is slightly “raised” off the ground – so if your ball rolls just off the fairway

KENNEDY BAY

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Contact: Ph: (08) 9026 2626 Email: golf@kalgoorliegolfcourse.com www.kalgoorliegolfcourse.com

The Vines Regularly rated as one of Australia’s best golf resorts, The Vines is surrounded by native bush with abundant wildlife, manicured gardens and the magnificent Swan Valley wine region. Two equally challenging 18-hole golf courses in the stunning Swan Valley await your arrival. With lush bent grass greens—among the largest in the country— unique bunkering and a beautiful natural layout, you will be tested on every hole while also taking time to soak up the surrounds. The 36-hole layout consists of two world-class championship courses: The Lakes and Ellenbrook.

• Listed in the Rolex top 1000 courses in the world 2011 • Consistently ranked in the top 20 courses in Australia (Australian Golf Digest) • No 4 Public Access course in Australia (Golf Australia Magazine 2013) • Range of membership packages available • Driving range open to public • Fully Licensed Club House DON’T DELAY - WHY NOT JOIN TODAY? For more information call (08) 9524 5991 or visit our website

JOIN TODAY O

All in all, Kalgoorlie Golf Course is an amazing course with a setting that is second to none. We are confident that this course will one day find itself listed among Australia’s top rated courses.

The Links

N LLE

onto the red earth, you can find yourself wedged against a raised grass “lip”, which requires a tricky wedge shot to get back onto the fairway. Despite the fact that the course is still relatively young, it is already extemely playable. Most courses require years of growth before they are as playable as Kalgoorlie is today. The greens (Bent G2) and fairways (Couch wintergrass) are in fantastic condition. Putting is a pleasure, and the greens roll true, despite still being a bit firm in their youth. With a course of this calibre on offer, Kalgoorlie is a fantastic destination for a quick golfing holiday, corporate event or even an annual Social Golf Weekend, as it offers worldclass golf, comfortable accommodation, and a unique “frontier town” nightlife scene. (Hint: try one of the thick and juicy Pepper-crusted eye fillets at the Balcony Restaurant above the Palace Hotel). After dinner, grab a few beers and mingle with the locals at one of the historic pubs, or kick back in your room at one of the 25 local hotels and dream about the next day’s round at Kalgoorlie GC.

B AVAILA

Proudly managed by:

Email info@kennedybay.com.au • www.kennedybay.com.au • Tel 08 9524 5991 78

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west australian golf

Joondalup Resort

The experienced golfers will find plenty of challenge from the championship tees while social players will have as much enjoyment from more generous tee positions. Together, the Ellenbrook and The Lakes layout hosted some of the world’s golfing greats like Norman, Player, Els, Langer, Daly, Sorenstam and Campbell during events including the Heineken Classic 1993-2001, the LPGA Lexus Cup in 2007 and the Johnnie Walker Classic in 2006 and 2009. The Vines, like all good championship courses, takes some thinking. Course architects Graham Marsh and Ross Watson skillfully and strategically used the stunning Swan Valley landscape to produce championship courses that command respect. The landscaping areas on the fairways are generous enough for the average golfer, but severe

consequences await those who find one of the deep bunkers or grassy hollows. There is also plenty of water to grab wayward drives. The fun doesn’t end on the 18th green, with local wineries, art galleries, gourmet food and the Vines’ Resort facilities including tennis, squash, outdoor swimming pool, terrace barbeque area, restaurants, bars and gymnasium. When the day is done, unwind with a glass of world famous Western Australian wine and watch the resident community of inquisitive kangaroos gently graze in the Resort grounds. Contact: P: (08) 9297 3000 Email: bookings@vines.com.au www.vines.com.au

SANCTUARY GOLF RESORT

Joondalup Resort

You’ve likely heard of Joondalup, as it regularly features near the top of many of the regular golf course rankings. In truth, this is one spectacular facility, and is less than 30 minutes drive from Perth. With three 9-hole layouts – The Dune, The Quarry and The Lake – Joondalup offers something for golfers of all levels. The Quarry 9 is the most spectacular of the layouts, as it wends its way around steep limestone quarries and deep, menacing valleys. It is certainly the star of the facility – and a definite must-play layout. It’s hard to name just one standout hole at Joondalup - as there are many breathtaking (and jaw-dropping) choices. But you simply can’t go past the Quarry’s 3rd and 4th holes.

Though only 136m from the back tees, the Quarry 3rd is one of the more intimidating holes in Australia, as hitting the green requires a forced carry over a “valley of death” in the front and right. If you do miss the green right, there is a steep path down to the bunker below (though this is not a recommended approach option!) After navigating this tricky par-3, you then must tackle the challenging par-5 4th, a double dog-leg uphill monster which wends its way around a large limestone cliff that protects an elevated green. A par on this hole almost feels like an eagle. From tee to green, Joondalup is one of our favourite courses in WA. The perfectly manicured fairways, the soft and true greens, the tremendous staff and the breathtaking scenery all combined for a 5-star experience. With your round finished, be sure to make

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From $110pp (Quad share) • Overnight accommodation in a luxurious two bedroom apartment • One round of 18 hole golf per person on our Michael Coate designed championship golf course • One small bucket of driving range balls per person • A fully cooked buffet breakfast in Vittoria’s Restaurant per person FREE golf cart hire* Call and quote “Inside Golf” when booking a Sleep & Play package and receive the hire of one golf cart between two players absolutely free! Offer expires 30th September 2013 *Conditions apply. Subject to availability

• 18 Holes of Golf* • Golf Buggy (Shared Cart) • Bucket of Balls (Practice Range)

All For $39 *Monday-Thursday ONLY

kwinana golf club Old Coast Rd, Pelican Pt, Bunbury WA 6230 Resort: +618 9725 2777 • Pro Shop +618 9725 2999 www.sanctuaryresort.com.au • escape@sanctuaryresort.com.au

Kwinana Golf Club Summerton Road, Calista WA 6167 Pro Shop: 9419 4959 www.insidegolf.com.au | July 2013

west australian golf

Sanctuary Resort

Links Kennedy Bay

your way to the fantastic on-site resort for some post-round drinks at their Kangaroo Arms pub, followed by a relaxing stay at the amazing on-site resort, which is another spectacular feature of this remarkable facility. The resort features 70 beautiful rooms and suites, six function rooms, an outdoor lagoon style pool and heated spa, tennis courts, mini gymnasium, massage and beauty treatments, a café, restaurant, and cocktail lounge. In short – it is a perfect location for a golf getaway for groups of any size. Play here. Soon. Joondalup Resort will welcome a new addition to its emerald green landscape, when it opens the Lakeview Ballroom, a purpose built function room catering for up to 450 people. Opening late 2013 and offering state-of-the art design features along with spectacular golf course views, Joondalup Resort’s new Lakeview Ballroom brings an exciting new dimension to conference and special events to Perth’s northern

suburbs. Integrated LED colour change lighting system to the walls and ceiling will provide the opportunity to dramatically enhance and change the mood of the room. 65” drop down LED Display Panels will engage your audience and floor to ceiling glass provide an abundance of natural light and sweeping lakeside views to the golf course. The Lakeview Ballroom will enhance the Resort’s existing Poolside Marquee, Boardrooms, Grand Ballroom and additional indoor / outdoor function spaces, to offer a diverse and quality facility to the corporate event and golf market. Joondalup Resort Country Club Boulevard, Connolly, Western Australia, 6027 (08) 9400 8811 proshop@joondalupresort.com.au www.joondalupresort.com.au

Swing into

Learn

Sanctuary Golf Resort

Sanctuary Golf Resort in Bunbury, a 90-minute drive south of Perth, is situated on 37 hectares of rolling golf terrain. This Michael Coate-designed championship course boasts 64 strategicallyplaced bunkers and an equally impressive collection of manmade lakes. During a recent round there, we found the course to be a very enjoyable and welcoming track, with just the right amount of “bite” to keep you on your toes. While a fair amount of courses in the world feature an “island green”, few can claim an “Island Fairway”, which is exactly what we faced at the 487m par-5 16th. You need to plan your attack very early on this hole, lest you find yourself losing all control. After a very careful tee shot down the main fairway (hint – keep the driver in the bag) you must play a delicate “approach” shot onto an hourglass-shaped island fairway that lay smack dab in the middle of a lake. It’s a forced layup of

sorts, and it prevents all but the longest of hitters from going for the green in two. Assuming you’ve played your first two shots correctly, you will then have a relatively easy approach to the green…assuming you don’t hook it into the reeds on the left! Following your round, we recommend retiring to the clubhouse for some cold beer, fantastic food from their top-notch restaurant, and a bit of the footy on the clubhouse TV. Despite the distance from Perth, it is well worth the drive to play a round at Sanctuary Golf Resort, and even stay the night in their fantastic on-course accommodation. Contact: P: (08) 9725 2777 1800 677 309 Email: escape@sanctuaryresort.com.au www.sanctuaryresort.com.au

SANCTUARY GOLF RESORT

Wembley Golf Course SLEEP AND PLAY

Visit www.wembleygolf.com.au or call the Golfshop on (08) 6280 1300.

Wembley Golf Course. 200 The Boulevard, Wembley Downs

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Old Coast Rd, Pelican Pt, Bunbury WA 6230 Resort: +618 9725 2777 • Pro Shop +618 9725 2999 www.sanctuaryresort.com.au • escape@sanctuaryresort.com.au

west australian golf

Wanneroo Golf Club

Busselton Golf Club Busselton Golf Club Named as one of the “Top 5” courses to play outside of the Perth metropolitanaArea, Busselton Golf Club is well known for its magnificently presented true bent grass greens and deceptively long layout. Designed by Murray Dawson, the 18-Hole Championship golf course is generally flat terrain with some gentle slopes winding through some of the Southwest’s most beautiful woodland setting. The course is fully reticulated, and plays to a Par of 72 (Men) and 73 (Ladies). Annual major events at the club include the Ladies Geographe Classic (36 Holes – March), Men’s West Coast Open (54 Holes – September), Mixed Leaney Cup (36 Holes – November) and the Busselton Pro-Am (18 holes – May). Onsite you will also find a fully-stocked golf shop open 7 days a week with a great range of clothing, footwear, golf equipment and repairs workshop to cater for all your golfing needs

with competitive prices. You will also be able to take advantage of the club’s excellent practice facilities including a 250m driving range , 3 flag chipping and pitching green and 9-hole putting green. The next time you are planning a golf trip south of Perth, check in at the Busselton Golf Club as you will be delightfully impressed with thepProfessionalism and services the club offers to make your day a success. The Busselton Golf Club is located at 277 Chapman Hill Road, Busselton. Contact: P: (08) 97531050 E: golfshop@busseltongolfclub.com.au www.busseltongolfclub.com.au

Wanneroo a winner Western Australia’s Wanneroo Golf Club is a

freehold establishment which has been developing over the past 42 years into a modern golfing facility, with a course which is presented in exceptional condition. At just over 6200 metres in length (Par 72) for males and 5400 metres (Par 73) for females, the course is certainly not short. With some of the par fours exceeding 400 metres off the championship tees and tricky tiered greens such as the 2nd, 10th, 12th, 15th and 17th holes, playing golf at Wanneroo is challenging but fun. Facilities at Wanneroo include the club lounge and bar together with an alfresco area, locker availability for members, buggy storage, a kitchen that provides excellent food prepared by a qualified chef and a well stocked pro-shop with a resident professional who is well known and liked around the Club. Through enormous support from within the Club, in late 2011, the membership approved a new Constitution which is pivotal for the future

of Wanneroo. A key feature of the Constitution has seen a refreshing and pro-active approach to the various membership categories. Greater flexibility means that there are 3, 5, 6 and 7-day memberships available as well as country and fly in fly out categories for those who qualify. Men, women and children are welcome at the Club. The great breadth and strength in Wanneroo’s membership includes the strong ladies, juniors and veterans divisions as well as the great Sunday mixed competition, and even an allweek competition for those who can’t partake in the regular ones. Wanneroo has also designed a Pathways to Golf option which caters for beginners, those who can already play and would like to take up a trial membership and those who already play on public courses and would like to join a club. The Club considers it extremely important that new members are made to feel welcome. As part of this process a buddy system is in place whereby

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west australian golf

Capel Golf Club

Wanneroo Golf Club

a new member is paired with an existing member. This system is designed to ensure new members quickly become familiar with how Wanneroo operates and the systems in use to facilitate playing golf on the course. It also includes introductions between new and existing members. Wanneroo is managed by a professional, enthusiastic and progressive group of people intent on ensuring the members are presented with the best facilities and playing conditions possible, as well as ensuring that the Club is sustained well into the future. It is testament to the efforts of the Course Superintendent, Jon Carter and his staff, that Jon has been recognised as Groundsperson of the Year in WA. This is no mean feat, especially as nominations came from various courses throughout the State. Wanneroo also welcomes visitors and green fee players on Mondays as well as afternoons on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Corporate days can be held at the Club with a great example being

the highly successful 2011 Australian Taxi Golf Championships. Contact: P: (08) 9405 3677 E: wgclub@iinet.net.au www.wgc.net.au

Capel Golf Club Capel Golf Club is a friendly and welcoming 18hole course set on relatively flat terrain surrounded by an abundance of Tuart, Jarrah, Banksia and Peppermint trees. With fully-grassed greens and fairways, the club is home to major annual events such as the Capel Open, Summer Cup, Easter Medley, Mineral Sands Cup, Capel Cup and the Capel 3000. The history of Capel Golf Club dates back to 1928, when it was situated on Tren Creek. In 1931,

the club moved to the Capel Race Course. In 1958, the club purchased land in Stratham for $3,000, and thus began a move which saw them eventually settle on their current location in 1964, with a full grassing of the holes completed by 1971. The club features everything a golfer may want, including club house with showers and change rooms, a fully licensed bar and function area where catering can be arranged. The function areas are also available for hire. In addition, club professional and PGA Member Jim Mercer is available to help with tuition, equipment selection or repairs from the fully-serviced Pro Shop. Club Fixtures are played every day except Monday and green fee players are welcome by booking, seven days a week. Membership fees are $1,090.00 per year (men) and $696.00 per year (women). Green fees are a modest $30/$40 for 9/18 holes Tues-Sun & public holidays, with non-public-holiday Monday only $15/$25 for 9/18 holes.

Contact: 1380 Bussell Highway, Stratham (08) 9795 7033 www.capelgolfclub.org.au

Kwinana Golf Club Kwinana Golf Club is an A-grade championship golf course which is known for being a relaxed and friendly club. Set in a picturesque valley, the course is a relatively straightforward course with plenty of trees and a smattering of hazards to catch any wayward shots. The course measures a respectable 6271m, with two par 3s playing up the hill. There are also a variety of slopes and hills throughout the course which will challenge the golfer of every level. Kwinana Golf Club has a variety of facilities including a two storey Clubhouse and the well-

Capel Golf Club is renowned for its superb greens, known as the best greens in the South West of Perth.

GREEN FEES 18 holes (adults) 9 holes (adults)

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ElEctRic caRtS 18 holes 9 holes

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www.busseltongolfclub.com.au 82

$35 $22.50

Corporate and Social group bookings seven days a week, please contact the Capel Golf Club for Corporate and Social golf group rates.

Naturally Friendly Capel Golf Club Inc. 1380 Bussell Highway Stratham, WA 6230 P (08) 9795 7033 Pro Shop (08) 9795 5023

www.capelgolfclub.org.au

west australian golf

Craig Tapp from the Peel Golf Academy

Kwinana Golf Club appointed ‘On The Green Function Centre’ available for private functions. Their fullystocked pro shop is manned by a pair of topnotch golf professionals who will look after your every golfing requirement, and they have a fleet of golf carts available for hire for either 9 or 18 holes. The club’s origins began in 1958, when Mr HL McGuigan (Road Board Commissioner) formed a committee to study the concept of a sporting complex on Tasker’s Reserve. The first golf annex meeting was held under a shady tree outside Wheatfield Cottage on April 12th, 1959. The Club Constitution was later approved at a general meeting, where plans for the clubhouse building, by architect Margaret Feilman were on display. The cost was estimated £25,000, as was funded by an interest free loan of £22,000 from BP and a donation of £3,000 from BHP. After many hours of voluntary labour, the

farm land was transformed into 6 playable golf holes with marl putting surfaces. The inaugural game at Kwinana was played on 11th July, 1959. By 1967, with over 100 players taking part in the Saturday golf competition on a regular basis, it was necessary to construct the final stages of the golf course. A loan of $46,000 was negotiated to construct the remaining holes with full reticulation, and the clubhouse. In 1970, the second 9 holes were completed. Contact: 2 Summerton Rd, Calista (08) 9419 2888 www.kwinanagolfclub.com.au

The Peel Golf Academy The Peel Golf Academy was established over a period of seven years by PGA professional Craig

‘Tappie’ Tapp. One of the most friendly and hardworking professionals around, Tappie’s goal is to provide outstanding golf tuition for players of all levels. And having seen him in action, we can definitely attest to his dedication, approachability and positive attitude. The Peel Golf Academy is based at Meadow Springs Golf and Country Club and The Links Kennedy Bay. Since opening, the Academy has instructed thousands of students, working with all levels of players including many tour professionals, state representatives, and elite golfers. The Peel team of coaches have a passion to help their clients improve, and they endeavour to impart their knowledge through a simple, low-pressure teaching style which concentrates on three main key areas to create a reliable and consistent golf swing: 1. Good body shape

2. Neutral club face 3. Pivot leading the golf swing Craig’s approachable and easygoing manner, combined with his golfing knowledge and video analysis, makes the learning experience both informative and enjoyable. The Academy boasts an outstanding 300-meter driving range and short game facilities the equal of any in Western Australia. The Peel Academy are able to offer the most up-to-date computerbased swing analysis, and have access to some of Australia’s best golf-specific Biomechanists, Physiotherapists, Personal Trainers and Massage Therapists. Contact: www.peelgolfacademy.com.au 0419 403 508 Email: admin@peelgolfacademy.com.au

World Class Golf

in the Outback For a truly unique outback golf experience, come and play the brand new Graham Marsh designed championship course. Situated in the heart of the West Australian Goldfields, the Kalgoorlie Golf Course is rated amongst the best public access courses in the country. AFFILIATED COURSE OF THE NULLARBOR LINKS

Phone: (08) 9026 2626 Email: golf@kalgoorliegolfcourse.com www.kalgoorliegolfcourse.com proudly managed by

www.insidegolf.com.au | July 2013

west australian golf

Where to Stay... The Sebel Mandurah

Sanctuary Golf Resort

The accommodation is great for play-and-stay, and perfect for visiting Bunbury, or taking a day trip to the Margaret River region. The Resort offers a selection of beautifully appointed studio suites and 1 and 2-bedroom self-contained apartments. Accommodation includes in house movies, spa suites, tennis court, resort pool, heated spa and retreat services.

Joondalup Resort

The Sebel Mandurah

Joondalup Resort

On-site facilities like we found at Joondalup Resort just add to the experience of a great day of golf. With fantastic rooms, superb restaurants and impeccable service, the resort is worldclass all the way. Be sure to take in breakfast while you’re there, and watch as the resident Kookaburras join you for a morning meal on the terrace. www.joondalupresort.com.au

Located just 50 minutes south of Perth and overlooking the picturesque Harvey Estuary at the Point, The Sebel Mandurah boasts an appealing location and offers guests an idyllic base for a relaxing break away. With Mandurah’s vibrant Performing Arts Centre situated alongside the hotel and with the Barragup Botanical Gardens, Dolphin Quay Markets and world-class golf courses just moments away, guests of The Sebel Mandurah are spoilt for choice when it comes to enjoying Australia’s South West. For the golfing enthusiasts, Mandurah is where the region’s only Links-style golf course – The Cut, can be found. Ranked in the top 25 courses

in Australia, The Sebel Mandurah is in a perfect position to stay and play and can accommodate small and large groups. The guestrooms at the 4.5-star Sebel Mandurah boast views of the Estuary and holidaymakers can choose from spacious studio rooms or one, two and three-bedroom apartments - many come with their own private balcony. For those that want to stay that little bit longer, the apartments come with all the mod cons and feature fully equipped kitchens with European appliances, washing machine and dryers, separate living room areas, iPod docking stations and high speed internet access. Whether it’s an early morning swim or afternoon

drink by the pool stretched out on comfy sun lounges, The Sebel’s 15m long heated lap pool and recreation deck is always a popular space for guests, as is the fully equipped gymnasium. After a day enjoying the sites of Mandurah, take a stroll down to the boardwalk at the base of the hotel and take your pick of the many restaurants and cafés which line the strip. Bustling bars with live entertainment are popular with locals and visitors alike and the hotel has charge-back facilities to a number of establishments. For a relaxing weekend away which ticks all the boxes, get out of town and head for The Sebel Mandurah...it’s just the answer.

WALK IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF CHAMPIONS THE HOME OF TOURNAMENT GOLF IN WA With the likes of Norman, Scott, Els and Westwood gracing the two championship golf courses, Novotel Vines Resort & Country Club, Swan Valley gives you the chance to follow in the footsteps of these champions and tee up in your own search for glory.

Enquiries: +61 8 9297 3000 www.vines.com.au Verdelho Drive, The Vines WA 84

July 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

west australian golf Pullman Bunker Resort

A picture perfect oasis in Bunker Bay Nestled alongside the glorious white sands and azure waters of Bunker Bay on the northern fringe of Australia’s Margaret River region, Pullman Resort Bunker Bay sits on 35 acres of magnificent landscaped gardens and boasts direct beach access, with an abundance of native bushland and wildlife at its doorstep. Perfect for those who want to do as much or as little as possible, there is something for everyone

to enjoy at Pullman Resort Bunker Bay. There are over 170 wineries to sample throughout the Margaret River wine region as well as plenty of award-wining providores. For those that can’t leave home without the golf clubs, there are a number of championship golf courses to tee off from – most notably Dunsborough Lakes Golf Course which boasts 10 pristine lakes and large contoured greens, making the course challenging, environmentally and aesthetically pleasing while suitable for all skill levels. Back at the resort, and Pullman’s Mii Spa day

spa is the perfect place to relax, unwind and let trained therapists invigorate the senses. This awardwinning day spa has six treatment suites, a Vichy shower and all suites have secluded courtyards. Boasting 150 spacious, bungalow-style villas with a choice of studio, one, two and threebedroom configurations, there is a room type to suit every scenario. Natural internal finishes including Australian Jarrah timber floors and limestone walls pay homage the resort’s unique environment. The deep-plunge standalone bath tubs in each of the villa bathrooms are a definite

crowd pleaser. Guests of Pullman Resort Bunker Bay also enjoy the benefits of a 24-hour reception desk, a breathtaking restaurant with stunning ocean views which often frame whales passing by, a private helipad for those wanting to arrive in style, tour desk, a tennis court and a 25m outdoor heated infinity-edge swimming pool and gymnasium. For guests that truly want to get away from the world and escape to an unspoilt oasis surrounded by rolling pastures and turquoise seas, Pullman Resort Bunker Bay is just the place.

Inside Golf Digital Now available on iPads and iPhones!

Get Australia’s most regularly read monthly golf publication directly on your iPad or iPhone. Packed with our award-winning content, Inside Golf Digital includes bonus videos, photo galleries, links, interactive elements and more! All in an easy-to-read digital format, delivered directly to your device. Available in iTunes, the App Store or via the Apple Newsstand. Only $0.99 per issue. Or get a full 12-month subscription for only $5.49 Never miss another issue. Check out Inside Golf Digital today!

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InsideGolf www.insidegolf.com.au | July 2013

travel

Golf on the Murray: Barham A great place for that well earned vacation or just a weekend away, Barham is an idyllic paradise located on the Banks of the Mighty Murray River. Situated between Swan Hill & Echuca, Barham is a leisurely three-hour drive north of Melbourne. cluBarham has become one of the most popular destinations in the Central Murray region, proudly incorporating: Barham Services Club, cluBarham Golf & Sports and cluBarham Motel & Barham Golf Resort. With nearperfect weather it is a great place to enjoy the great outdoors and a challenging game of golf on the par-73 championship course. The newly Ross Watson-designed holes and greens ensure this course will be on your ‘must play’ list. The front nine is gently undulating and played throughout tall timbers and creek crossings. The first, second and third are played alongside the Eagle Creek. The fifth hole, “Gallipoli”, is Barham’s trademark with a massive bunker located at the foot of the green. The ninth is a challenging hole that will test any golfer’s prowess and, set to rival “Gallipoli”, is played from an elevated tee shot over the creek and onto the green surrounded by bunkers. The back nine is lined with the spectacular backdrop of golden wattle, pine and gum trees. cluBarham offers many extracurricular activities to make your stay an active and enjoyable holiday. If golf isn’t your forte, perhaps picking up a racquet for a friendly game of tennis on one of the 14 magnificent grass courts is more your style. For a more leisurely pace, a choice of five lawn bowls greens are available for use all year round. Or maybe just relax beside a pool and enjoy

a great weekend away. cluBarham also hosts a range of music festivals throughout the year and the atmosphere at any of these events will certainly complement your trip to Barham. Golfers of all standards are encouraged to visit cluBarham Golf and Sports and other participating Golf on the Murray Partner Clubs to participate in the Champions of the Murray tournament. Champions of the Murray final will be held at Commercial Golf Resort in Albury in January 2014. Golf on the Murray is hoping to expand this event next year and will be encouraging any players who have a golf handicap and Golf Link number to review the 2013/14 qualifying dates and book a golf getaway along the Murray.

Golf on the Murray has a new promotion called Signature 18 Murray Challenge. Golfers can explore the region and play any nine holes of the Signature 18 Murray Challenge for their chance to win a total prize pool of $2000. Golfers who play nine signature holes will automatically go in the draw to win $500 cash with draws taking place in June, September and December 2013. Players can obtain a Signature 18 entry card at Golf on the Murray Partner Pro Shops and submit their verified entry online or in the Pro Shop. The more courses players explore, the more signature holes they play, the more chances they have to win. For hot deals and more info about Golf on the Murray visit www.golfonthemurray.com.au. •

Obama to reprise Presidents Cup role President Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States of America, has accepted an invitation to be Honorary Chairman of The Presidents Cup when the competition returns to the United States for the 10th staging, this year at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, October 1-6. Obama served as Honorary Chairman in 2009 when the event was last played in the United States, at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, Calif. “We are truly honoured that President Obama has once again accepted our invitation to be Honorary Chairman of The Presidents Cup in October,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem. “His involvement again this year serves to only further enhance the stature of The Presidents Cup and the game of golf as a whole.” President Obama is part of a distinguished group of nine world leaders who have held the position of Honorary Chairman at The Presidents Cup. He is preceded by Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who was the first woman to serve in the role for the 2011 event in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The Presidents Cup, a team match play competition featuring 24 of the world’s top golfers – 12 from the United States and 12 from around the world, excluding Europe – is held every two years, and since 1996 has alternated between United States and international venues. Muirfield Village Golf Club becomes the third U.S. golf course to host The Presidents Cup, joining Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Prince William County, Va., (1994, 1996, 2000) and Harding Park Golf Course in San Francisco, Calif., (2009). •

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July 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

travel

Golf in a Kingdom–Thailand

Golf travel tips - How to plan, play & pack

By 2014 Thailand will rival Spain as the world’s most popular golf tourism destination. In 2012 Thailand had 22 million tourists, with golfers making up 750,000. With local peace and stability and no natural disasters, it is foreseeable that number will top one million in 2014. The top courses in Thailand are comparable in quality and price with Australian courses, however the ‘land of smiles’ has a service culture that is unmatched anywhere in the world. Thailand boasts more than 250 golf courses, including some of the most feted resort and tournament tracks on the continent. Your round will include a full-time caddy that guides you around the course, provides club selection, cleans your clubs, marks your ball, rakes the bunker and does it all with a genuine smile. And trust their lines on the putting green. Your Thai golf experience would not be complete without a game at ‘cream of the crop’ courses including Banyan Golf Club, Black Mountain Golf Club, Siam Country Club and Majestic Creek Country Club. And this is just to name a few of the premium options in the area. Their quality and premier facilities is a testament to hosting major Thai golf tournaments including Thai Open and Honda LPGA. Their unique designs,

Planning–If you want to play better golf, you get a lesson from a PGA professional. So it makes sense that when you are planning a golfing holiday that you enlist the help of a reputable golf tour operator. Brief the operator on what you are looking for and your budget. Compare itineraries and quotes. The purchasing power of bigger golf tour operators should save you money. Travel insurance is a must for overseas trips and only book with a golf operator that is a licensed travel agency. That way you have financial protection and support if anything goes wrong. Once you have settled on your destination of choice, top operators will be able to provide you with advice on the best courses, lodgings, transfers, things to see and do. Be aware that many top private courses worldwide can only be played if booked through a preferred golf operator. Advice on best times to travel with regard to climate, rain seasons, course renovations are just some of the added benefits of booking with a tour operator. Good operators will be able to recommend tee times to avoid peak hour traffic and arrange transfers.

well crafted bunkers and stunning backdrops will be a long-lasting memory of your Thai golf experience. From the moment you arrive, your ‘Golf in a Kingdom’ experience is defined by the warmth and friendliness Thai people extend to visitors. This yearround golfing haven not only has a great variety of courses, but also spoils you with authentic and modern accommodation, cheerful shopping markets and street stalls that will test your bartering skills. What’s more, Thailand is a great value golf and holiday destination. Your accommodation, meals and private transport are all much cheaper than back home and designer labels are half the price. Your own maid and chauffer will cost less than $100 a day and a one hour massage will set you back less than $10. Beyond the courses, awe-inspiring temples and shrines, marvelous beaches, spectacular waterfalls and breathtaking mountain scenery are all part of your Thai holiday experience. Golf in a Kingdom Thailand Tour departs 1020 October 2013. Contact Go Golfing Travel for more information about their 10 night/6 round golf package. Book before 31 July and save $380 per person. Call (07) 5536 3280 or email info@gogolfing.net.au. Visit Go Golfing website www.gogolfing.net.au. •

Playing – Download course maps for your GPS or pick up a course guide. When playing a course for the first time, don’t get too hung up on your score. Matchplay or stableford is a better scoring option. Enjoy the course, your playing partners and if in Asia, the luxury of playing with a caddy and customs like a postround massage. Packing – Resist the temptation to pack too much. You are likely to buy souvenirs from courses or markets, so save room. Clothing that can be layered—and a rain suit—is best if the weather is unpredictable. Check your airline baggage allowance. With most airlines, pre-booking extra baggage is significantly cheaper than paying at the check-in counter. Use your maximum carry-on allowance. Not all baggage handlers will care as much for your clubs as you do, so protect your club heads by packing clothes or other support in the top of your bag. Contact Go Golfing Travel for full details on their upcoming tours and tournaments. Call (07) 5536 3280 or email info@gogolfing.net.au. Visit www.gogolfing.net.au. •

www.insidegolf.com.au | July 2013

social golf

Cricket pads up for golf David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

THE Queensland Cricketers’ Club (QCC) is about to hit the social golf scene for six. Recently appointed CEO Tony Kent, who took over the role from Martin Kent (no relation), told Inside Golf the Queensland Cricketers’ Club Golf Club was aiming to grow significantly its membership base. “Currently the QCC Golf Club, which is a sub-club of QCC, has 24 members who play 10 events per year,” he said. The “new” golf club has set some lofty goals with plans to attract 500 members within three years. It will launch the opening at Indooroopilly Golf Club at a Bulls Masters corporate golf day on Wednesday, August 28. The first members’ event will be on Tuesday, September 3 at a yet to be decided venue. According to Kent, new members can look forward to many exciting alternatives including: • 130 golf competitions per annum at 34 southeast Queensland venues playing every second Tuesday, every Thursday, every second Saturday and every second Sunday; • Corporate Golf Challenge set up to play eight events at high profile resort courses on the third Friday of each month from February 2014 to October 2014; • Caravan golf trips where 20 or 30 caravans travel to selected country golf clubs hitching up in the clubs’ car parks and stay a few nights to enjoy country hospitality and great golf; and

FORE! Ian Healy is one of 12 ambassadors that will help drive the Queensland Cricketers’ Club Golf Club. • Golf trips around Ashes Tests in each Australian capital city; and • Overseas golf trips associated with cricket series on all major continents. “That’s not all,” Kent said. “We will work closely with the Bulls Masters in fundraising via golf events during the year. “So there will be opportunities for golfers to join the great Queensland cricketers of the past to enjoy golf and provide funding for country cricket development.”

Twelve ambassadors from various sports will help grow the QCC Golf Club. They are cricketers Greg Ritchie, Jimmy Maher, Ian Healy, Darren Lehmann, Michael Kasprowicz and Julia Price. Simon Black (AFL); Wayne Grady, Rachel Hetherington, Karrie Webb (golf); Andrew Slack (rugby) and poet Rupert McCall will join them. The Gabba clubhouse will host monthly golf presentations and each presentation will be a special event with notable speakers. “In addition to the QCC Golf Club our other members have special monthly nights on sporting topics and events,” Kent said. “For example, on Thursday, July 10, we shall see the first ball bowled in the first Ashes Test at Trent Bridge, which is being hosted by Greg Ritchie.” QCC Golf Club members will be able to make golf bookings online via the website. Timesheets will open 60 days in advance with bookings finalised seven days in advance. “QCC has created a new social membership category to encourage active participation within the club, which is $120 per annum,” Kent said. “To join the QCC Golf Club it’s an additional $200 per annum for existing golf club members or $250 for players who are not members of an existing golf club.” Players can maintain their Golf Australian handicap through the QCC Golf Club. Wayne Bridgman is the director of golf and can be contacted on 0401 417 865 or email wbridgman@qqldcricketersclub.com.au For more information, call the QCC on (07) 3896 4533 or contact via email at reception@qldcricketersclub.com.au •

World Rankings Following the US Open Top 20 Australians

1 Adam Scott (4 in world rankings) 2 Jason Day (16) 3 John Senden (61) 4 Marc Leishman (62) 5 Marcus Fraser (75) 6 Geoff Ogilvy (76) 7 Brett Rumford (78) 8 Greg Chalmers (91) 9 Brendan Jones (109) 10 Aaron Baddeley (139) 11 Brad Kennedy (182) 12 Scott Hend (202) 13 Matt Jones (207) 14 Peter Senior (229) 15 Cameron Percy (274) 16 Wade Ormsby (277) 17 Scott Strange (285) 18 Rod Pampling (286) 19 Jake Higginbottom (288) 20 Nick Cullen (295)

Top 5 World Rankings

1 Tiger Woods (averaged points 13.06) 2 Rory McIlroy (9.52) 3 Justin Rose (8.19) 4 Adam Scott (7.35) 5 Matt Kuchar (6.69)

Top 20 Rolex World Rankings in Australia 1 Karrie Webb (8 in world) 2 Stacey Keating (72) 3 Lindsey Wright (83) 4 Katherine Hull-Kirk (91) 5 Sarah Jane Smith (147) 6 Nikki Campbell (164) 7 Bree Arthur (196) 8 Kristie Smith (204) 9 Karen Lunn (223) 10 Sarah Kemp (235) 11 Su-Hyun Oh (251) 12 Rebecca Artis (258) 13 Nikki Garrett (262) 14 Jessica Speechley (263) 15 Frances Bondad (271) 16 Tamie Durdin (303) 17 Julia Boland (307) 18 Stephanie Na (326) 19 Minjee Lee (a) (330) 20 Whitney Hillier (332)

Top 5 Rolex Rankings

1 Inbee Park (averaged points 11.22) 2 Stacy Lewis (8.42) 3 Suzann Pettersen (8.14) 4 Na Yeon Choi (7.77) 5 So Yeon Ryu (6.57)

Membership Special 3 Years Full Golf Membership ONLY $2,000 Includes $75 house credit each year No Joining Fee Limited Time Only!

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Home of Leonay Golf Course 88

July 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

www.leonaygolfclub.com.au

clubs

Affordable membership makes Marcus happy IT’S encouraging to see golf clubs helping 20-something golfers retain their club membership in these challenging economic times. Keperra Country Golf Club in Brisbane’s northern suburbs recently introduced four new intermediate membership categories for golfers aged between 18 and 28. The golf club’s marketing manager Michael Dash said the new intermediate membership categories and costs were: • Intermediate 1 (18-20) $373; • Intermediate 2 (21-23) $513; • Intermediate 3 (24-26) $861; and • Intermediate 4 (27-28) $1209. “The $300 nomination fee in each category has been waived,” Dash said. That’s good news for former junior member Marcus Lacy, who relinquished his membership after completing university. Now, thanks to the intermediate fee structures the 26-year-old has rejoined the club. “When I was at uni it was okay because I was on a scholar membership of around $400 a year, which was great,” he said. “When I finished uni my student card expired and I received a membership invoice for over $1200. “At the time, I had a HECS debt, had just started a new job and I wasn’t living at home anymore. I also had a car with rego and insurance bills to pay. “For me, it was a five- or 10-second decision and I decided I couldn’t afford it.” According to Dash, people within this age group don’t procrastinate when it comes to renewing their membership. “When they open the invoice and see the membership fees they make a quick financial decision. If they don’t like the figure, they walk away.

Keperra County Golf Club’s marketing manager Michael Dash (left) with Marcus Lacy. “At Keperra, we recognise people in their early to late-20s have a lot going on in their lives,” he said. “They are starting a new job or family and are looking at entering the real estate market. “We really want to keep them as members and help them through difficult financial times by offering intermediate memberships. “It’s a lot easier to retain someone than it is to find a new member.” At Keperra, new intermediate members receive a voucher book with six tickets that allows them to bring a friend out for a game.

“Each ticket goes into a draw to win a Titleist prize pack,” Dash said. “The club’s biggest asset is the golf course and it’s in great condition so we want to showcase it to potential new members. “We know they like playing golf and we want them to be members so they can enjoy the championship 27-hole golf course and clubhouse facilities.” Keperra is home to the Keperra Bowl – a world amateur ranking event. For more information, call Michael Dash on (07) 3355 7744. •

Tottenham’s enjoying the ride The Tottenham Golf Club members are a very determined and resourceful lot. They would not let the obstacle of a malfunctioning tractor get in the way of their game. Their course is maintained solely by volunteers, and when their 40-year old tractor started giving in, they quickly kicked in some fundraising activities to purchase a new one. They raised about $80 weekly through Meat Raffles. However, Totteham is only a small club with less than 50 members. Their fundraising could only go so far with just a few months of weekly golf available per year from March through October. It became evident that purchasing a new tractor was beyond their reach. They turned to the NSW Golf Foundation and their local community. With the help of the New South Wales Golf Foundation grant, a local mechanic and club members who were willing to volunteer their labour to repair the existing tractor, the Club now has a working tractor to pull their grass slasher. The volunteer support alone saved the Club approximately $3000 in labour costs. John Medcalf, Tottenham’s Club President, sent the Foundation an email stating, “Just a short note thanking the NSW Golf Foundation for their financial assistance in helping us repair our tractor, we are very grateful.” John also sent the Foundation a couple of photos (pictured) as evidence of the working tractor, letting us know that the Club Captain who was sitting on it was adding value to the newly repaired machine.” The New South Wales Golf Foundation considers all grant applications and encourages individuals and clubs to seek support; not just for financial hardships, but to help fund projects and services to develop golf in NSW. www.nswgolffoundation.org •

www.insidegolf.com.au | July 2013

events

Queensland Open lures young Kodie David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

MONDAY, August 19 is going to be a big day in the life of Sunshine Coast teenage amateur Kodie Koski. That’s the day he will skip school and attempt to pre-qualify for the $110,000 Isuzu Queensland Open to be played at Brookwater Golf and Country Club from August 22-25. The Year 11 Meridan State College student, who plays off a +1 handicap at Caloundra Golf Club, was one of the first to enter pre-qualifying at Virginia Golf Club. Taking on the pros and elite amateurs for one of a handful of spots in the field doesn’t faze the 16-year-old, who has ambitions of being a professional golfer. “I might be a little nervous, but I’m going to try and pre-qualify at Virginia,” he said. “I want to get as much experience as possible playing in pro events because hopefully I will be playing in pro events when I am older. “I may as well start getting experience now.” Introduced to the game by his dad Marcus, who plays off three, and his grandad Rick, a seven marker, Kodie has been playing golf competitively for three years. He has racked up plenty of junior titles in the past two years. Last year he was the Sunshine Coast junior pennant player of the year after winning 10 from 10 matches.

Kodie Koski ... “I may as well start getting experience now.”

He also won under-15 junior titles at Caboolture, Hills, Pelican Wat e r s , C a l o u n d r a , Pe re g i a n Springs and Horton Park. And he won the junior club championship at Caloundra and finished fifth in the open division. But wait, there’s more. Kodie won junior classic events at Headland, Noosa Springs, Nudgee, Nambour, Tin Can Bay, Beerwah and Tewantin Noosa. Other achievements at the Sunshine Coast Invincibles awards include Player of the Year, Junior Masters champion, Matchplay champion and Players’ Player. Kodie this year has continued his good form winning the Greg Norman Summer Classic, Caloundra Junior Classic and the Invincibles Junior Matchplay. Dad Marcus said he regretted not

introducing his son to golf at a younger age. “We tried to get him into golf when he was much younger, but weren’t sure if he was keen,” he said. “But once he got interested he just loved it and took off.” Coached by 2012 Queensland teaching professional of the year Grant Field, Kodie is a member of Queensland’s junior development squad. “He works hard on his game, practises and plays six days a week and does a lot of fitness work every Monday and Wednesday,” Marcus said. “He also goes to Brookwater with the state squad for training. “His strength is he hits the ball pretty straight and has a good short game. “He is committed and his goal is to be a professional, but we have told him he

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July 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

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has to finish year 12 next year. “Then we will give him a year off to concentrate on his golf and follow his dreams. “I will back him all the way only because he is committed and really wants to get somewhere in golf.” The Queensland Open has a rich history dating back to 1925. In fact, no fewer than five major winners – Jim Ferrier, Kel Nagle, Greg Norman, David Graham and Ian BakerFinch – have their names etched on the TB Hunter Cup. The legendary Norman von Nida won it seven times in three decades between 1935 and 1961. Other notable names on the trophy include Bruce Devlin, Harry Pickworth, Eric Cremin, Ted Ball, Billy Dunk, Graham Marsh, Peter Senior, Brett Ogle, Stuart Appleby, Terry Price, Ian Stanley Steven Bowditch and Scott Hend. Former Queensland Open champion Peter Senior said the event provided young up-and-coming players the chance to experience playing in a top tournament. That includes youngsters like Kodie Koski. Of course, his first assignment is to qualify for the Queensland Open. Should he be successful, it will be a feather in his cap but if he makes the cut, it will be a huge confidence boost for the young man with dreams of being a professional golfer. The 72-hole Isuzu Queensland Open will be played from August 22-25 2013 at Brookwater Golf and Country Club. Spectators welcome, free entry. •

Win!

A Pro-Am spot in the Isuzu Queensland Open Golf Queensland is providing a unique opportunity to play in the Isuzu Queensland Open Pro-Am on Wednesday, 21 August 2013 at Brookwater Golf and Country Club. To enter, simply complete the Isuzu Queensland Open Competition Form located at www.golfqueensland.org.au. The winner will receive: 1. An 18-hole round of golf in the Isuzu Queensland Open Pro Am on Wednesday, 21 August 2013 2. Return economy airfares to Brisbane from your nearest Australian capital city 3. O n e n i g h t ’ s s t u d i o accommodation at Quest Ipswich on Tuesday, 20 August 2013 4. Transfers from the Brisbane Airport to accommodation, accommodation to Brookwater Golf and Countr y Club, Brookwater Golf and Country Club to the Brisbane Airport *Terms and Conditions apply Entries close Friday, 9 August 2013. Good Luck! •

events

Dan’s a wizard on sand greens

Golf NSW Events EVENT Women’s Pewter Plate

VENUE Manly GC

Men’s Vardon Events Cabramatta Cup Cabramatta GC Pacific Dunes Cup Pacific Dunes GC Liverpool Cup Liverpool GC

David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

IT’S amazing what a five-year “spell” away from the great game of golf can do for a golfer’s confidence. With renewed enthusiasm, Dan Hughes returned to golf after a lengthy layoff and scored an impressive Queensland Sand Green Championship victory at Mitchell Golf Club. Hughes, who grew up at Mitchell 500 kilometres west of Brisbane, wasn’t one of the favourites going into the tournament, but he soon caught the attention of his rivals, and later the handicapper, after firing rounds of 69-61 for a 130 total – 12-under par. He finished one stroke ahead of Charleville’s Luke Short (68-63). Hughes, who plays out of Toowoomba Golf Club at Middle Ridge, had 1.9 strokes shaved from his handicap and now plays off 3.3. His stunning 10-under par 61 set a new course record. The previous course record of 62, held by legendary sand green specialist Jimmy “Sandman” Shreeve, stood for 24 years. Ironically, Hughes was Shreeve’s caddie on that day in 1989. When asked about his incredible round Hughes said: “I don’t know where that came from. I guess I snuck under the radar.” Well, 16 putts over the final 18 holes certainly helped him post such a low number. Not renowned as a deft putter, Hughes, who started playing golf on Mitchell’s sand greens when still in nappies, was deadly on and around the greens. “I chipped in three times,” he said. “I had seven putts on the front nine and nine putts on

Golf NSW – July calendar of events DATE(S) 22 July

20 July 20 July 27 July

Women’s Jean Derrin / Senior OOM Events Pennant Hills Cup Pennant Hills GC 1 July Pambula Merimbula Pambula 5 July Open Merimbula GC Bayview Silver Salver Bayview GC 26 July Men’s Senior OOM Events Cabramatta Seniors Cabramatta GC Gold Coast Senior Tweed Heads, Amateur (National Lakelands, Ranking) Sanctuary Cove Ocean Shores Seniors Ocean Shores Country Club

1 July 16 July 17 July

For information on any of the above events, or for a full list of fixtures go to: www.golfnsw.org

Kiwi pro in snake jibe SANDMAN: Dan Hughes shows off the Queensland Sand Green Championship trophy. the back nine. “My putting is probably the worst part of my game, but I just had a good day,” said Hughes, who is a good driver of the golf ball. “I first picked up a club when I started walking and spent the first 18 years of my life playing golf on Mitchell’s sand greens. “It takes a bit of practice to get used to sand greens, but there is no secret to it. “You just have to hit the ball much harder than you do on grass greens. That’s all there is to it. “Winning the tournament is definitely the highlight of my golf although I did win the Central Highlands Open at Blackwater once, which was great. “I don’t normally practice, but I did practice for the Sand Green Championship.”

Hughes, who works as a concrete tester for Boral, said he was enjoying being back playing the game he loves. “I have only just started getting back into golf after a five-year spell,” said Hughes, who also enjoys fishing and camping. “I gave golf away because I just got sick of it and I had a couple of young kids. Due to family commitments, Hughes is restricted to playing just one round of golf a fortnight. “I think I have only had about six games of golf this year,” he said. “My kids (daughter, 9, and son, 6) are young so it’s not easy to get away for a round of golf although my son is starting to take an interest.” For all the scores: www.golfqueensland.org.au •

THE two-day Zigga’s Electrical Moranbah pro-am in the Queensland coal-mining town (between Mackay and Clermont) proved to be a big hit with locals. The professionals put on golf clinics, a holein-one shootout and even the pros and the gallery had a bit of fun at the expense of New Zealander Pieter Zwart. The Kiwi, so elated with a shootout win after acing his first shot, threw his club in jubilation much to the delight of the gallery. The crowd’s cheers soon turned to laughter when he was forced to search the long grass for his club. That resulted in plenty of banter about New Zealanders’ fear of snakes. Zwart took it in his stride and had the last laugh when he finished joint winner of the pro-am along with Chris Wood (Qld) and Troy Ropiha (Vic). •

www.insidegolf.com.au | July 2013

events

Gaffney and Dooley capture NSW Mid Amateur Championships Nelson Bay Golf Club was host for the 2013 Men’s and Women’s NSW Mid Amateur Championships. This was the first year the men’s and women’s events have been held together. The men’s event had traditionally been a stand-alone event, while the women’s event was played in conjunction with the Women’s NSW 72-hole Stroke Play Championship. A field of 132 contested this year’s event – 116 men and 16 women. The Men’s NSW Mid Amateur Championship was stroke play over three rounds of 18-holes, while the Women’s NSW Mid Amateur Championship was stroke play over two rounds of 18-holes (played on Sunday and Monday May 5-6). The Men’s NSW Mid Amateur Championship was fiercely contested, with a high quality field all vying for the title. The first day of play saw Gabriel Baciu (Eastlake), Peter Cooper (Kogarah) and Guy Wall (Pymble) lead the field after shooting even par rounds of 72. Following the lead group there were no less than 14 players within three strokes, ensuring a large portion of the field still remained in contention. The leading group continued their form on day two. Cooper had a solid 74, sitting on 146 after 36-holes and topping the leader board. Shelly Beach’s Matt Gaffney came into play with rounds of 73 and 76 to see him tied for second place with Guy Wall who had 77 on day two. Both players finished their rounds on 149, three shots behind Cooper. On 150 and sitting in third place were the duo from Royal Canberra, last year’s winner Andrew

Matt Gaffney. (INSET: Gemma Dooley) Tharle and John Mihaljevic, while six players were a further shot behind on 151. With scores so tight, the Championship was there for the taking. However it was Shelly Beach’s Matt Gaffney who proved the most consistent, shooting a final round of 72, for a total 221. His tactic of not using a wood on the tight Nelson Bay layout proved a master stroke. Gaffney won by a stroke to Woolgoolga’s Logan Toms. In the Women’s event Gemma Dooley (NSW GC) took the spoils with rounds of

81 and 77, securing her third NSW Mid Amateur Championship title. Dooley won by four strokes to Maitland’s Melissa Beavis and Killara’s Jan Chrichton. Last year’s winner Sharon Thompson finished in fourth position a further four shots adrift. This is Dooley’s third victory in the event, having previously won in 2007 and 2009. She was thrilled to receive a new Smoothy Golf Buggy for her win. A full list of results, prize winners and images can be found at www.golfnsw.org. •

Antill Park

Mudgee, Wakehurst win Mixed Weekend Tournament The 2013 Mixed Weekend Tournament was held at Mudgee Golf Club last month. The spectacular new clubhouse had only just opened six weeks prior, and this event was the first big tournament they were to host. The format for the event was 18-holes Fourball Stableford on the Saturday, and 18-holes Irish Stableford (best two scores from a team of four) on the Sunday. One hundred and twenty competitors from all over the state took to the course on day one. Those who hit off early had the better of the conditions, with rain falling in the afternoon, and sunlight fading fast. Despite hitting off in the very last group and enduring the worst of the conditions in the afternoon, Glen and Alison Barker from Mudgee Golf Club had a great score of 45 to win first prize. John Chicken and Robyn White from Newcastle Golf Club had 43 to secure second place on a count back. Equal on 43 in third and fourth positions respectively were Mudgee locals mother and son Kate Crooks and Jayden Perring, and husband and wife Jennifer Moore and Bruce Bell. In the Irish Fourball on Sunday, the team from Wakehurst Golf Club – Peter & Jenny Morris, Lea & Pip Shapiera – took top honours with a great score of 83. Highlands Golf Club were runners up, the team of Janet & Peter Bracken, and Ian & Wendy Thompson finishing their 18-holes with 81 points. In third place was Glenmore Heritage Valley Golf Club – Andrew & Juanita Robb, and Margaret & Greg Blattman scoring 78 points. Full results, prize winners and images are available at www.golfnsw.org •

COUNTRY GOLF CLUB

ip bersh *

em ths M

$60 from

Mon

Corporate, Social and Competition golf available Social Clubs welcome seven days Green Fees $29 for 18 holes - $20 for 9 holes (incl drinks voucher)

Equipment sale & hire - electric carts available

Golf lessons on site with PGA Members Full Bar and Recreation facilities on site Children friendly atmosphere in historic homestead location

Golf at Picton

Just minutes from the Hume along Picton Rd

*Conditions apply

July 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

events

Brander wins fourth women’s NSW Senior title Deirdre Brander wasn’t expected to win this year’s Women’s NSW Senior Championship title. In fact, if you were betting, she would have had the third best odds, sitting behind seventime champion Sylvia Donohoe (Narooma GC) and the highly fancied Jacqui Morgan (Monash GC). It seems the only way to take the title was to knock off the big guns, and that’s exactly what she did. After finishing the 36-hole stroke component in fifth position, Brander lined up against the fourth-place getter, Lynne Townsend (Wollongong GC) in the first round of the match play. She accounted for Townsend with a 2/1 win, seeing her through to the semifinals, and up against the super talented Sylvia Donohoe, who had qualified first. The match went right down to the wire, both players taking the lead, the other then clawing their way back. It was on the 18th hole that Brander secured the victory. With rain and hail stones pelting down she calmly sunk a fivemetre putt to finish the match triumphant, and give herself a place in the Final. On the other side of the draw Jacqui Morgan (Monash GC) had finished second after the 36hole stroke component, and in match play had accounted for Brenda Chalmers (Elanora CC) 2/1 and Suellen Barker (Avondale GC) 2/1. It was set for a tough final match, with both players finding form at the right end of the week. Brander had never beaten Morgan in match play before, seeing Morgan the clear favourite. However Brander played outstanding from the outset, taking an early lead and retaining it. She won the match 3/1. It is Brander’s fourth Women’s NSW Senior Championship, having won the event previously in 1999, 2007 and 2009. Brander was thrilled with her victory,

Senior Amateur Events Calendar July 1 July 5 July 8-10

July 14-16

July 17 July 25 July 26 July 28-29 August 1-2 August 3-4 August 5-6 August 8-9 even getting a little emotional during the presentation whilst thanking her husband and caddie. “I couldn’t have done it without my caddie, my husband, who was an enormous support and great help. He has been with me from the beginning, and taught me all there is to know about golf ”. “I had to play my best today to beat Jacqui”, remarked Brander, “I’ve never beaten her in match play so to get over her today in this event is just something special”. Sixty ladies from all over the state took to Manly Golf Club for this year’s event. The first two day’s were 18-holes stroke, while the final two days were match play. For those that didn’t qualify in the top eight to contest the Championship match play, there

were age category match play events. In the 55-59 years Margaret Bain-Smith (Concord GC) def Maggie Hayes (Bermagui CC) 4/2; in the 60-64 years Nicky Moon (Federal GC) def Gae Larcombe (Manly GC) 1up; in the 65-69 years Liz Smyth (Royal Canberra GC) def Susan Wilson (Merewether GC) 5/4, and in the 70+ years Joyce Williamson (Concord GC) def Gloria Hickey (Coffs Harbour GC) 3/2. It was Williamson’s third consecutive victory in her age category, which is no small feat. A highlight of the Championship was a hole in one on day two on the par three 15th hole by Chris Taylor from Royal Canberra Golf Club. Daily reports and full results are available at: www.golfnsw.org •

August 12-13 August 12 August 12 August 13 August 14 August 15-16 August 16 August 19 August 26 August 29

Cabramatta Seniors (NSW) Gailes Seniors (QLD) *Queensland Senior Amateur Championship – Oxley GC *Gold Coast Senior Amateur Championship (Royal Pines, Lakelands) Ocean Shores Seniors (NSW) Maryborough Seniors (QLD) Hervey Bay Seniors (QLD) Bargara Seniors (QLD) Coral Cove Seniors (QLD) Seaside Classic (Port Macquarie) Rockhampton Seniors (QLD) Capricorn Resort Seniors (QLD) Yeppoon Seniors (QLD) Carnarvon Seniors (NSW) Yarra Yarra Seniors (VIC) Kingston Heath Seniors (VIC) Victoria Club Seniors (VIC) Capricorn CC Seniors (QLD) Royal Melbourne Seniors (VIC) Metropolitan Seniors (VIC) Newcastle Seniors (NSW) Nudgee Masters (QLD)

* Part of the Australian Senior Ranking System

Men’s 2013 nsW Veterans 4 Ball sandgreen ChaMpionship

Tuncurr y Course rate Australi d in a’s Top 100 Pu blic Acc Course ess s

(Ladies event to be held in conjunction)

To be held at Coonamble Golf Course

saturday 26th & sunday 27th october 2013 Entries Close: 8th October 2013 (Field limited to 150 players) Entry Fee = $60 Saturday Night Dinner = $18 (Optional) Conditions: All entrants must be members of a Veteran’s Golf Association and have a Current Golf Australia Handicap

For entries or more information please contact Frank Wooding on 0418 477 527

Where else can you get the choice of 2 beautiful courses?

Nowhere else but the Forster Tuncurry golf courses on the majestic mid north coast – less than 3 hours drive from Hornsby. • Social golfers most welcome • Stay and play packages are available Ring the Club on 02 6554 6799 for your booking. • All weather courses that test the abilities of all levels of golfers • Enjoy a drink at the club after the game overlooking the picturesque Pacific Ocean. Forster Course Tuncurry Golf Course Strand Street, Forster Northern Parkway, Tuncurry (02) 6554 6167 (02) 6554 7622

www.forstertuncurrygolf.com.au Murray’s Floor Coverings | Conex Services | Secombe & Coghill Accountants | Halcroft and Bennet | Coonamble Cellars

The home of Sarah Kemp www.insidegolf.com.au | July 2013

calendar Handiskins

When: Various Where: Various Info: www.handiskins.com.au

Coolangatta & Tweed Heads Golf Club 5th Qualifying Round 13th July 2013 Final 20th July 2013

Handiskins is the closest thing to a PRO Tournament that a club golfer will ever play in. Handiskins is a fivequalifying-round stableford competition. A player’s best three rounds count towards their final score. Players don’t have to play all five qualifying rounds if their scores are good enough. The top four players with the best scores at the end of the qualifying rounds go into the ‘skins’ format final and have the opportunity to play for $1,200 in club or pro shop vouchers.

Griffith Golf Club 2nd Qualifying Round 28th July 2013 3rd Qualifying Round 10th August 2013 4th Qualifying Round 8th September 2013 5th Qualifying Round 29th September 2013 Final 20th October 2013

UPCOMING HANDISKINS EVENTS: Hurstville Golf Club 5th Qualifying Round 10th August 2013 Final 24th August 2013 Howlong Country Golf Course 4th Qualifying Round 17 August 2013 5th Qualifying Round 24 August 2013 Final 21st September 2013

August

Port Stephens Golf Classic

When: 11th August– 16th August Where: Various Info: www.golfportstephens.com.au Port Stephens Classic offers golfers a unique experience on the NSW Coast with the Golf Tournament being played on three premier golf courses. This year the Port Stephens Golf Classic Tournament will be played twice on Nelson Bay Golf Course, Newcastle Golf Course Fern Bay and Pacific Dunes at Medowie. The Port Stephens Golf Classic is now in its 15th year and always books out. It is a visitor only event with play over four days for 190 to 200 golfers. Only visitors to the region are able to participate in the Port Stephens Classic. Male and Female golfers can participate in the Port Stephens Classic over four days and can win prizes worth upwards of $5000.

Noosa Springs Ladies Golf Series When: 13th August & 3rd December Where: Noosa Springs Info: golf@noosasprings.com.au

The Individual Stableford competition is followed by a gourmet, champagne lunch, presentations and a dazzling fashion parade showing off the latest in ladies golfing apparel. Play both days in the series and you will automatically enter the grand draw for your chance to win one of four $250 golf shop vouchers.

Charlestown Golf Club 3rd Qualifying Round 13th July 2013 4th Qualifying Round 27th July 2013 5th Qualifying Round 10 August 2013 FInal 12 October 2013 Bayview Golf Club 3rd Qualifying Round 13th July 2013 4th Qualifying Round 27th July 2013 5th Qualifying Round 10th August 2013 Final 17th August 2013

Ladies will also get a discount on day of play at Noosa Springs’ golf shop – which is widely considered one of Australia’s best. Cost includes lunch: $99 per player, per day (non members) and $39 (members). More information, visit www.noosasprings.com.au. (07) 5440 3333.

Special Olympics Golf - Australian Championships Where: Canberra International Pitch & Putt (CIPP) When: Sunday 25 August Info: www.specialolympics.com.au or contact wazza.gray115@bigpond.com Canberra International Pitch & Putt (CIPP) is honoured and proud to host the Special Olympic Australian Golf Championships as part of the Centenary of Canberra celebrations. Come along and watch the Special Olympians and add your support.

2013 NSW Mixed Foursomes Championship

The 2013 NSW Mixed Foursomes Championship will be held at Shelly Beach Golf Club on Sunday 4 August 2013. The Championship is open to men and women, with the individual handicap limits of 18 for men, and 36 for women. The Championship will be foursomes stroke play over 18 holes, with females playing from the first tee. For the second year the NSW Mixed Foursomes Club Champion of Champions event will be played in conjunction

with the NSW Mixed Foursomes Championship. Club Mixed Foursomes Champion pairs are invited to enter and play in this event. Club Champions are exempt from the handicap limits. A strong field is again expected for this event, with entrants including current men’s and women’s junior and state team representatives. However all mixed foursomes pairs are encouraged to enter and participate in this event. Entries are now open - $90 per pair via hard copy, or $80 per pair online. Entry also includes savories at the completion of play. To enter, or for more information, log onto www.golfnsw.org. Entries close Friday 19 July 2013.

W E Alexander Open

When: 31st August & 1st September Where: Waratah Golf Club Info: www.waratahgolfclub.com.au The W E Alexander Open is the Club’s annual prestige event which is contended by the state’s and district’s leading amateurs. The event is a State Vardon Event is named for Mr W E Alexander, a long-time distinguished President. Mr Alexander was President from 1927 to 1951. Some of this country’s most outstanding golfers have competed in and won this tournament. They include: Peter O’Malley, Lucas Parsons, L Wooodward, Leigh McKechnie, Nathan Green and Col Johnston to name a few. For more information, contact Kevin Hardy, GM, on (02) 4958 1847.

September Women’s Country Meeting

When: 2, 3, and 5 September 2013. Where: Glenmore Heritage Valley, Penrith & Lynwood Golf Clubs Info: Karen Wagg on 02 9505 9105 or karen.wagg@golfnsw.org. The Women’s Country Meeting was developed exclusively for country women to participate at Sydney metropolitan golf courses. It is open to female amateurs who hold a current Australian or overseas equivalent handicap and are a member of a Golf NSW Country Golf Club. It is held over three days, the first two being stroke, the third foursomes. Monday 2 September: 1st Round (18-holes stroke), Glenmore Heritage Valley Golf Club Tuesday 3 September: 2nd Round (18-holes stroke), Penrith Golf Club Thursday 5 September: Foursomes (18-holes), Lynwood Country Club Entries are now open – 50 per person per day via hard copy, or $40 online. $110 per person for three days via hard copy or $100 online. To enter log onto www.golfnsw.org. Entries close Friday 16 August 2013.

A U S T R A L I A’ S M O S T R E A D G O L F M A G A Z I N E

Queensland PGA Sunshine Tour Proud Sponsors 94

July 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

calendar 8th Annual Australian Father & Son Open Golf Championship Where: Country Club Tasmania When: 29th November – 1st December Info: www.australianfatherandsongolf.com Is there a better way for a father and son to learn about life and each other than by playing a round of golf together? The Championship is a 2 ball aggregate stableford which will be played over 36 holes. The best father and son team score over the two days will be crowned the

October Queensland Amputee Golf Association Charity Golf Day When: Friday 11th October 2013 Where: Emerald Lakes Golf Club, Gold Coast. The Queensland Amputee Golf Association is holding its annual Golf Charity Day at Emerald Lakes Golf Club followed by a Presentation dinner and Charity Auction. Organisers are seeking Charitable Donations/Prizes for the Charity Auction. All money raised helps further the expansion of amputee golfing clinics and tournaments throughout Queensland. For more information: Scott Smith, Vice-President, QAGA, scott@qaga.org.au, 0407 972 008, www.qaga.org.au

City of Orange Golf Championship When: 5-7 October 2013 Where: Duntryleague Golf Club Info: www.duntryleague.com.au

Annual Veterans’ Tournament When: 8-10 October 2013 Where: Duntryleague Golf Club Info: www.duntryleague.com.au

This longstanding and popular Tournament includes three days of golf and a Presentation dinner on the Wednesday night. Numbers are limited to 216 players. Accommodation on site in their famous 14 room mansion. Further information is available from Tournament Director Beryl Pearce, 0428 622 300, beejaber@gmail.com.

QLD Sunshine Tour OOM following the Glenden Pro-Am ultimate winners of the Australian Father and Son Open Championship for 2013. Each winning player will receive a replica of the perpetual trophy. 2nd and 3rd place runners up will receive trophies. The full entrance fee is $585pp, includes 3 night’s accommodation with breakfast and all other inclusions (such as golf, gala dinner, cocktail party etc.) Entry fee without accommodation is $195pp and does not include the Gala dinner. Cost to attend the Gala dinner is an additional $75pp. For more information: contact Eric Roberts (03) 6394 4158, eric.roberts7@bigpond.com.

Ladies’ Open Tournament

When: 28 October to 1 November 2013 Where: Duntryleague Golf Club Info: www.duntryleague.com.au The Ladies’ Open Tournament is a much anticipated Tournament on the Duntryleague calendar. The Tournament will include golfing events each day and some great social events as well. Accommodation on site in their famous 14 room mansion. Further information is available from our Ladies Captain Pat Bradford: (02) 6361 8002, johnpatbradford@y7mail.com.

November Hahn Golf Open Amateur Championship When: 9-10 November 2013 Where: Duntryleague Golf Club Info: www.duntryleague.com.au

(Golf NSW Vardon Event & Senior Event in conjunction) These two days of golf are not to be missed. Saturday and Sunday Championship with individual daily events in conjunction. Test yourself against some of the best players in Australia. Accommodation on site in their famous 14 room mansion. Please contact the Golf Shop on (02) 6362 4072 for further enquiries.

Pos 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 =8 =8 10 11 12 =13 =13 15 =16 =16 18 19 20

Name Pieter Zwart Jim Cusdin Henry Epstein Christopher Wood Matthew Ballard Sven Puymbroeck Kurt Carlson Tony Carolan Steven Jeffress Aaron Pike Samuel Brazel Samuel Eaves Alex Hawley Paul Donahoo Ian Esson Richard Wright Gavin Flint Benjamin Bloomfield Paul Hayden Brenton Fowler

Ctry NZL NZL QLD QLD QLD NZL QLD QLD QLD QLD NSW QLD NSW QLD QLD NZL QLD QLD QLD QLD

Pts Rds 132 20 120 22 106 25 100 24 92 19 91 21 88 17 87 24 87 14 83 16 82 14 79 17 78 20 78 16 75 16 73 22 73 15 72 15 71 16 70 25

QLD Sunshine Tour Schedule JULY Mon 8th Wed 10th Thur-Sun 11th - 14th Tues 16th Thur-Sun 18th - 21st Tues 23rd Thur-Sun 25th - 28th Tues 30th AUGUST Fri-Sat 2nd - 3rd Sun 4th Tues 6th Thurs 8th Fri 9th Tues 13th Wed 14th Thurs 15th Sun 18th Mon 26th Wed 28th Thur-Sun 29th-1st

Townsville Pro-Am Pioneer Lakes Pro-Am M Group City of Mackay Open City of Rockhampton Pro-Am Ian Weigh Toyota Rockhampton Pro-Am Yeppoon Pro-Am Pat O’Driscoll Real Estate / Tropical Auto Group Golf Classic Boyne Island Pro-Am

$10,000 $10,000 $70,000 $10,000 $50,000 $10,000 $100,000

Maryborough Pro-Am Bribie Island Pro-Am Twin Waters Pro-Am Caboolture Pro-Am Noosa Par 3 Pro-Am Woodford Pro-Am Beerwah Pro-Am Horton Park Pro-Am Peregian Springs Pro-Am Southport Pro-Am Sandgate Pro-Am Jeep Pro-Am

$17,500 $10,000 $10,000 $12,000 $15,000 $10,000 $10,000 $12,000 $15,000 $25,000 $10,000 $200,000

$10,000

2014

Steve Conran Junior Tournament When: 24 November 2013 Where: Duntryleague Golf Club Info: www.duntryleague.com.au

Mercedes Benz Duntryleague Classic

A chance for up and coming juniors to experience one of Australia’s best regional courses. The Tournament is a must in every junior’s golfing calendar. Parents can relax and enjoy the hospitality and beauty of Duntryleague or take the opportunity to enjoy all that Orange has to offer. Accommodation on site in their famous 14 room mansion.

When: 19-21 January 2014 Where: Duntryleague Golf Club Info: www.duntryleague.com.au

This year’s event will run for three days of golf only, starting on the Saturday night with a registration and cocktail party.Packages are available for the full event and an early bird special is also available. Book early to avoid disappointment as this event fills quickly. Open to all male and female golfers with an official handicap.

Macquarie Inn Situated on the Northern tip of Lake Macquarie and only 25mins from Newcastle CBD

PLAY & STAY PACKAGES FROM $130 pp twin share* Package includes: • 18 Holes of Golf • Overnight Accommodation at the 4 star Macquarie Inn • A full hot breakfast • A Dinner voucher and Drink Ticket for Club Macquarie

Other: • FREE Internet access • Transfers can be organised on request • Ample FREE off-street parking • Small or Large group bookings welcome

Packages available with Newcastle Golf Club, Merewether Golf Club, Shortland Waters Golf Club, Toronto Country Club, Kurri Kurri Golf Club and Waratah Golf Club; Also located within 30mins of 3 other golf courses (*MID WEEK SUN-THU)

For Bookings call (02) 4958 8499 | 458 Lake Rd, Argenton, NSW 2284 | www.clubmacquarie.com.au/accommodation www.insidegolf.com.au | July 2013

people

The man behind Monsterball Wally Wright ed@insidegolf.com.au

John Noble was always a ‘big hit’ at corporate golf days during his traineeship years at Brisbane Golf Club for many reasons, but mainly because he knew how to put on a show. His stage was usually the 10th tee, a 365m par 4. A regular on the Australasian Long Drive circuit before beginning his traineeship, John was Australia’s Long Drive Champion in 2006 with a drive of 365m. His prodigious length off the tee and his extroverted personality combined perfectly on these corporate days to ensure that the charitable organisations involved in the event left with plenty of dollars. John recounts an example: “One day I was stationed on the 10th with a 28 inch driver, a left-handed driver, a standard driver and a chair. As each group came to the tee, I’d challenge them to hit their tee shots further than me, the catch was, they got to choose how I hit my tee shot. There were three options, my 28 inch driver, my left-handed drive (which I just turned upside down and hit right-handed) or I could hit the standard driver sitting on a chair. “The majority of groups chose the seated drive, and they were correct in assuming that it was the shortest of the three options, but they didn’t know that I used to teach golf to a man who was wheelchair-bound. To better understand how to teach this particular pupil, I decided to put myself in his position by hitting balls from a seat. “Unless I was having an off day, I usually won the $20 for the charity because I’d usually get it out there about 290m.”

Despite retiring from Long Drive tournaments in 2007, John has always maintained his passion for the exhibition event, which is why, a few years ago, when the opportunity arose to start up a new Long Drive competition, John jumped at the chance. Monsterball was launched at the 2011 Australian PGA Championship at Coolum and it has been growing in popularity ever since. Everyone loves a long-driver but John was blown away by the crowd response in 2011. “We were set up on the 10th tee at Coolum and we kicked off right after the last group finished on the Saturday,” said Noble. “The crowd was five-deep all the way down to

the walkway and a few of the long-drivers were slightly nervous about miscuing their drives. “Obviously the PGA were happy with how the event went because we were invited back last year.” Whereas the inaugural Monsterball event was an invite only competition, the 2012 event at Coolum was open to anyone and punters turned up in their droves to show their power. “Last year at Coolum, we had a hitting net with a launch monitor positioned next to the chipping green,” said Noble. “Over 400 people entered and the 8 longest drivers recorded in that closed environment were selected for the final, which was held on the Sunday.”

Unlike most Long Drive contests where each competitor hits one after the other, Monsterball sees competitors face off in a two-man duel each round. “Having two guys on the tee at the same time has been well-received because the crowd gets a result every time someone walks onto the tee,” said Noble. Whilst Monsterball has jockeyed off big golf tournaments like the PGA and Ladies Masters since its inception, John believes it has enough entertainment to attract people that would have previously had no interest in golf. “At Coolum we had cheergirls dancing after every round and DJ playing music, so there was something for everyone,” said Noble. “We’ve always pitched Monsterball as golf ’s equivalent of T20 cricket.” “I’m just trying to promote golf in a different way because, at the moment, crowds at major tournaments are down and club memberships are down.” John is vigilant of the fact that his product needs to be made easily available to as many people as possible, which is why he’s currently in the process of organising several regional Monsterball events, with the winners to contest for the title at the Australian PGA Championship, which this year will be held at Royal Pines. John has lived on the Gold Coast for several years now and he knows that the party lifestyle of the Gold Coast is perfect for his event. “Let’s just say I’m very excited that the PGA is at Royal Pines this year,” said Noble. “Timing is everything and I believe I’ve got a good product.” •

Kevin still aches for game of golf David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au

WELL-KNOWN sporting goods and golf industry figure Kevin Hyde moves ever so slowly towards the front door of his home in the southern suburbs of Brisbane. “Great to see you again, David,” he says, extending his left hand to shake mine before ushering me into his living room. I watch this once energetic septuagenarian slowly lower himself into a comfortable armchair. It’s 18 months since a serious road accident almost claimed his life. From Sydney originally, Kevin was on his way home on December 20, 2011 when a 40-tonne semitrailer slammed into his van. The impact ripped it open like a sardine can. His injuries include a paralysed right arm, partially paralysed right leg and his short-term memory is awry – all the result of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Kevin’s wife Judy delivers tea and cake. Kevin, a natural right-hander, can no longer lift even a cup with his preferred hand and has become adept with his left hand. He has had to learn to write left-handed. Still, he has improved with time and his grandchildren can now read his messages. Doctors have told Kevin, who spent four 96

July 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

decades working in the sporting goods side of the golf industry and as proprietor of Pro Golf Circuit, he will never work or play golf again and that breaks his heart. He misses the game and the day-to-day interaction with golf industry people terribly, but he is grateful he’s still with us and keeps his chin up watching golf on television and making the occasional visit to Mt Warren Park Golf Club in Brisbane. Each day, Kevin walks the block, albeit slowly, in the hope of getting more mobility into his leg. “I wake up some mornings feeling as good as gold,” he said. “I say to my wife, ‘I wouldn’t mind going to work and doing something today’, but it’s not on because I can’t lift my arm above waist height. “I do miss the game especially after being involved in the industry for 42 years. I miss it when I watch it on TV and think, ‘gee, I could do that once’. “I was supposed to go to New Zealand in February to play in the international seniors’ event and that’s what I miss.” Late last year, Kevin visited Byron Bay to catch up with some of his old friends on the Legends Tour. “There were 72 pros playing and I knew 33 of them,” Kevin said. “They gave me a chair to sit on the first tee and a few of the guys from NSW and Queensland all came up and said hello. It was great. “Ian Baker-Finch, Peter Senior, Mike Ferguson

and others all spent time talking to me during the day. It was like old times. “When I see these guys playing I do wish I was there playing as well,” said Kevin, who once played off a five handicap. “When we left the golf club I said to Judy, ‘I wouldn’t mind going back to the game’, but that’s not going to happen now.” Recently Kevin volunteered to teach kids golf, but doctors knocked that idea on the head. “The doctors said ‘no’ because I can’t drive or walk without the aid of a walking stick so I am stuck at home unless Judy drives me somewhere. “But I still read Inside Golf every month to keep up with what’s happening in the golf industry. “My mate Chris Martin brings me a copy of the magazine every month. “I stay in touch with what’s happening at the golf club and occasionally I get a phone call from a few people in the golf industry. “They ring up to see how I am going, but not that often anymore. “Doctors tell me my health will never get better than it is now, but at least I’m still here.” •

Following a serious road accident, Kevin Hyde’s source of golf industry news is Inside Golf, of course.

juniors

Supa Golf is simply super

‘New’ junior handicapping system

A NEW modified version of the greatest game of all is about to be launched in southeast Queensland. T.E. Morris and Associates and Merle Norman Cosmetics have the Mount Cotton development proposal before the Redland City Council. The unique features of Supa Golf is it’s much easier to play than traditional golf, which makes the game more enjoyable and therefore so much more appealing to a greater number of the population. It is also somewhat safer and cheaper. The modified form of the game enables everyone to enjoy the golf experience. A Supa Golf 18-hole course at Mount Cotton would be the fifth built after Western Australia (two courses), South Australia and one in England. The golf clubs, made from polycarbonate composites, have much larger heads than traditional golf clubs. Similarly, the Supa Golf ball is larger, softer and made out of polyurethane composites while the putting cup is two-and-a-half times the regular size. Existing courses measure some 900 metres and the ball’s maximum driving distance is 100 metres. In the early 1990s, Perth-based Australian engineer Andrew van der Meer created Supa Golf. A keen golfer and member of the prestigious Lake Karrinyup Country Club, he was unable to get to a driving range for some golf practice so he took his conventional clubs, and his young son, over to the local park and hit tennis balls instead. Not only did Andrew and young son enjoy it but by the end of the week most of the kids from the street were at the park waiting for their turn and so the seed was sown.

A CENTRAL Queensland junior golf coordinator has developed a junior handicapping system specifically designed for youngsters who play less than 18 holes. Gladstone Golf Club’s Stephen Lewis believes the system is ready to be trialled over the next 12 months by Central Queensland (CQ) junior golf clubs. The system was developed for juniors who play less than 18 holes – three-, six-, nine- or 12-hole competitions. CQ District Golf Association secretary Gurney Clamp said the system would allow juniors in the district to play on a level playing field. “We are inviting junior golf clubs in the Central Highlands, North Queensland and the Wide Bay districts also to trial the system that is similar to the current Golf Australia system,” he said. The junior handicapping system also has caught the attention of Golf Queensland manager (participation development) Adrian Hewat. He said Golf Queensland was awaiting the necessary data and feedback to strengthen its case to start looking at the system from a statewide perspective. “Without trialling this system and providing the information to other districts or clubs, we will not know what impact it will have throughout the state. “My approach is always, start small, do it really well and then look at expanding. “We also need to be mindful that there will be more changes when the slope ratings come into play and that this system at this stage can only be recommended as a guideline to districts and clubs, as it is not officially recognised by the R&A.” For more information, contact Gurney Clamp on (07) 4939 4760. •

the things about traditional golf that could be improved, or if you like, the things that they didn’t like about traditional golf. These included: • it took so long, they couldn’t play with their family; • it was very expensive; • they always seemed to be buying new equipment just to keep up with all the other progressive players; and • they hated losing their golf balls (and not only did it cost them $5.00 each time but the two stroke penalty seemed more like cruel and unusual punishment), and the list kept growing.

Supa Golf inventor Andrew van der Meer and the golf gear. Its other advantages are that it takes a lot less time to play and is much cheaper. The clubs have the same swing characteristics as conventional golf clubs and the same feel. The ball has similar flight characteristics to a conventional golf ball, but is limited in the distance it will travel. The ball comes in many bright colours, is safer and is almost impossible to lose. Custom-designed courses or converted parthree and pitch and putt courses are ideal for Supa Golf. Shortly thereafter Andrew was having dinner with his twin brother Jim (also a well-known Perth engineer) and every bit as keen as his brother when it came to matters of golf. Over a nice bottle of red they wrote down, folklore has it, on the back of an old napkin,

In fact, the brothers had been thinking about how to develop a golf ball that cannot be lost. Over the next two or three years the engineers’ minds went to work and Supa Golf was born. What Andrew wanted was not a mini golf concept but a carefully scaled down version of the traditional game that was easier to play, safer, appealed to a greater number of the population, was far less expensive, but at the same time kept the mechanics of the clubs and balls very similar to the traditional game. The logic behind keeping the mechanics the same was very simple. As Andrew put it: “It’s hard enough learning one swing let alone two.” He wanted Supa Golf players to be able to easily transition into traditional golf and traditional golfers to be able to enjoy Supa Golf without needing to adjust their normal swing. “I wanted to be able to play Supa Golf with my kids on a Friday, and make it good practice for golf at Lake Karrinyup on a Saturday,” he said. •

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the 19th hole

Did I ever tell you about that shot I made...

Michael Green

ed@insidegolf.com.au @AussieGolfer

I had a 10-footer for par and took a lot longer than usual to line it up. It looked left to right, perhaps there was a bit of opposing grain. The wind was picking up, will that have any affect? I had a lot of time to think about it as my playing partner was doing the walk of shame to his golf ball which was now further away from the green than his previous shot. For someone who can play a decent round of golf, this day wasn’t going as planned. He had already racked up some high numbers on his first four holes and on this one he had already played three terrible golf shots. His most recent was a skinnied pitch shot that saw the ball rocket over the green and into a greenside bunker on a completely different hole. Almost on an entirely different golf course. I don’t like to take too long over any golf shots and especially don’t like to overthink my putts, but on this occasion I did the polite thing and looked as focussed as I could on my putt, ignoring the obvious carnage going on around me. Without a device to measure variations in gravity along the line, there was only such much information I wanted to acquire about the putt with very little at stake. I turned my attention to repairing an array of plug marks in the green and then took in the view back towards the city. What came next was unexpected. My playing partner had grabbed a club

21 23

24 25

and disappeared into the bunker in the distance. I saw the club swing, some sand fly out and I spotted the ball on its way towards the hole. It bounced a foot short, skipped a metre past, spun back towards the hole, just missed the side edge of the hole and rolled back in the front. It was a shot so unexpected and remarkable that my elation was delayed by a few seconds as it took time to sink in. My bunker-bound partner now raking furiously, had no idea what had just happened and obviously feared the worst during those seconds of stunned silence. “Did anyone see where my ball went?” is usually a difficult question to answer but in this case it was a pleasure. I’ve always said that one of the nicest things you can do for your fellow golfer is listen to them talk about their round. Even if you played in the same group and saw every shot everyone played, the least you can do is sit quietly, sip your beer and listen to every excruciating detail. But perhaps telling someone else about their great golf shots is an even

greater service. For the next few minutes I had a go at recounting what had just happened – in essence telling him about one of the most ludicrous pars I had ever seen. Needless to say, he was captivated. I didn’t even need to embellish this story it was that good. The nature of the miracle shot is usually enough to elicit loud cheers than emanate across the golf course but if your fellow golfer is unfortunate enough to be out of sight when the ball fell into the hole, make sure you describe it to him in every little detail. It’s the least you can do for him because you know he is going to tell this story for years to come to anyone who will sit quietly and listen. • Michael Green is an avid golf fanatic, and the author/blogger of the Aussie Golfer blog (www.aussiegolfer.net) one of Australia’s most popular golf blogging sites. Follow him on Twitter (twitter.com/ AussieGolfer) or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/AussieGolfer

ACROSS 1. Unpredictable; inconsistent (7) 5. Protective eyewear (7) 9. Kind or considerate; a person (5) 10. Angel Cabrera’s country of birth (9) 11. American golfer who won the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial in 2013 (3,7) 12. Highest-finishing Aussie at The Players Championship in 2013, ____ Leishman (4) 13. Dealt with mess (6) 14. Elimination match (3,3) 18. Arm exercise performed face down (4-2) 19. Barriers surrounding a golf course (6) 23. Open (4) 24. Very much (1,5,4) 26. Guidelines; benchmarks (9) 27. Winner of the 2013 Wells Fargo Championship, Derek _____ (5) 28. Golf course that is home to the US Masters each year (7) 29. A golfer’s jotter, perhaps (7) DOWN 1. Museum pieces (8) 2. Winner of the 2013 China Open, Brett

_______ (7) 3. They play around, but not on the golf course (9) 4. Winner of the 2011 Open Championship, Darren ______ (6) 5. Enrolled (6,2) 6. The number of holes before the turn (4) 7. Endeavour to follow in action or manner (7) 8. Position of someone about to play the ball in golf (6) 15. The way something is handled (9) 16. European country that hosted the 2013 World Match Play Championship (8) 17. Off the beaten track (8) 18. Winner of the 2008 PGA Championship, _______ Harrington (7) 20. Make a lot of money (5,2) 21. Large Eurasian country that doesn’t have an Open championship (6) 22. Period of instruction that could be needed to improve your game (6) 25. The chances or probability (4) Answers: page 105

SGA Tour a hit with amateur golfers The SGA Tour events for amateur golfers played in the five mainland Australia capital cities have experienced a significant increase in numbers at events in 2013 as more golfers adjust the way they engage with the game. With participation falling and many clubs struggling to retain members, golfers exploring more cost-effective options are finding the SGA Tour offers a more viable means to play competition golf within an alternative golfing community. The SGA Tour offers golfers of all levels the opportunity to compete in an event series based on the format of the professional golf tours. The events are scheduled every two to three weeks and golfers simply choose the events they wish to enter and only pay for what they play. It is a more practical alternative for many golfers squeezed for time and struggling to extract the value they would like from a golf club membership. SGA Tour events are open to all golfers and SGA is a national handicap provider. Players without a handicap are welcome 100

July 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

although players require official handicaps to compete for the major prizes and results are entered on GOLF Link. The largest events in Melbourne and South East Queensland are attracting fields of 60 to 120 golfers and are continuing to increase. In Sydney, Adelaide and Perth, the fields are growing rapidly which suggests these cities will follow the trend in Brisbane and Melbourne where the Tour was first established. In addition to the prizes on offer, SGA Tour players receive Order of Merit points and can qualify to compete for an annual Tour Championship. According to Matthew Pitt, Managing Director of Social Golf Australia (SGA), the Tour is growing because it meets the needs of both the golfers and the courses. “Our goal is to create a friendly, inclusive and ‘social’ golfing community where people can enjoy the challenge of competition golf at a range of great locations in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. In essence, the SGA Tour takes the best elements of the club, social and professional

golf models and combines them. Our events are an opportunity for amateur golfers to play on their own Tour, just like the pros. The events are official competition rounds, we have great sponsors and quality prizes and our service includes professional event management with results and updates on our websites.” SGA has partnered with sponsors Golf Clearance Outlet, Srixon, Cleveland Golf, Heathcote Winery and Gifte gift cards to offer a great range of prizes at the events. In addition, Pitt is a qualified handicapper and has helped nearly 1000 people around Australia access an official golf handicap. According to Pitt, the events offer golfers great value and professional event management and golf courses in every State have welcomed the opportunity to be included on the Tour event schedules. “The benefit for the courses is the opportunity to secure large group bookings with one point of contact without some of the headaches that can come with social golf clubs. The challenge for us now is securing large enough bookings on weekends with

two-tee and shotgun starts as our fields increase. Fortunately, many of the courses we are working with see the potential of the SGA Tour concept and have been very helpful with coordinating bookings.” The Tour events are mixed competitions with men and women playing together and juniors welcome to participate. There are also a large number of golf club members at Tour events who enjoy the opportunity to play different courses. This year the Tours have grown by between 20 and 40% which Pitt attributes to several key factors. “Many people are shifting in the way they engage with the game – they want the value, flexibility and choice that the Tour offers. We are a family business founded by golfers and we put the game first with a strong emphasis on personal service and creating a friendly and inclusive community for golfers.” “In each State we have an SGA Tour Manager running the events. They are people who love the game and enjoy fostering a positive environment for all golfers to enjoy. We have also been very

fortunate to have a core group of great people form the foundation of the Tour in each State. They have welcomed new players and helped make the events a great success.” PGA Member David Lawrence enjoys playing in the Tour events in Queensland and says the diversity of courses, the friendly golfing fraternity and the professionalism of the event management are features of the Tour. “The Tour is not just a great opportunity to meet new people playing a variety of great courses across South East Queensland, but every event is well run by David Rushmore and his team; from registration to presentation, it is by far the most professional event series I have seen in my 15 years in the industry.” The SGA Tour is operated by Social Golf Australia and is proudly supported by Inside Golf. For more information on The SGA Tour, including event schedules and how to enter an event, go to sgatour. com.au and follow the links to The SGA Tour in your State. •

your voice

Letter of the Month I applaud the appointment of Kerrie-Anne Kennerley to the board of Golf Australia. As a female golfer, any contribution to encourage more women and girls to take up the game is to be commended. However, it may do little to change the views of the ‘old fogies’ who still feel women are not welcome at the golf club with the exception of the odd mixed 4BBB or ladies day. Often they hide behind charging the women less fees to reduce their options, an old trick. In 2013 there are still a lot of golf clubs who will not welcome lady golfers on a Saturday and although they say women can play – they don’t, mainly as they are not made welcome and any woman who dares to put their name down in the men’s field will find themselves flying solo. Until clubs open up all the tee times and treat all golfers as equal it won’t matter how many high-profile women are appointed to the Golf Australia board or any other board. At our club (Horton Park) we have only recently ‘fought’ for the right to play at any time on a Saturday and although the field is small it

is now sending the right messages to any lady or young girl who wants to play golf. Especially those who work, go to school or are at tertiary education during the week – which is now the majority of females. Bring down the barriers of segregation and that will be the best marketing tool to promote the game to female golfers, by simply rolling out the welcome mat. Segregation in this day and age is tantamount to old-fashioned thinking and discrimination in anyone’s language and if they had limited tee times for people of different religions or race it would be front page news and in the high court! Annabel Harris

YOUR VOICE Have you got something to say? Then tell us! Write to us

via email at ed@insidegolf.com.au or mail a letter to: The Editor, Inside Golf, PO Box 360 Nunawading, Vic 3131. Tell an interesting story or something funny about golf and you could WIN a prize like this month’s GolfBuddy Voice GPS unit!

Rake debate rages on...

In last month’s issue, we discussed the debate of placing rakes in/out of bunkers. This unleashed a flurry of emails and letters (Thanks to all of you!) Here are a few different viewpoints you shared with us:

A clever solution at South Lakes Funny how the Rules of Golf define a bunker in the same breath as a water hazard. If I hit my golf ball into a water hazard, nobody comes and parts the water for me to have a chance at hitting the green, yet if I hit a bunker – there it is, all nicely raked with beautiful sand to hit off. So if I had my druthers, I would throw all rakes in the lakes to rot and let the bunkers meet their definition of being the same status as a water hazard. If your ball lies in a poor position in a bunker, you can always play from outside the bunker under the penalty of a stroke and distance, or drop it elsewhere in the bunker as per Rule 28b or 28c. For many amateur club golfers, it wouldn’t matter if you raked the bunker or not, they are still going to have problems because they refuse to go to the Club professional and get a lesson on this aspect of the game. We constantly hear about slow play and yet we add to the problem by making people rake bunkers after they have had 3 shots trying to extract their ball. If your golf course has 90+ bunkers, how much time is wasted by players raking them in a single round? This so-called hazard is better looked after

than the rough areas of most golf courses. Which would you prefer to be in? And talk about equity – what happens if previous groups have not raked the bunker and you hit one? Bad luck, play it as it lies or take relief. So throw the rakes away and let these hazards be in the same condition for all. Play the ball as it lies and play the course as you find it. Maybe the R&A should redefine bunkers from hazards to nuisances, because I do not think our Peter Thomson tribe will ever win this battle. So endeth the sermon on bunkers as hazards, so where should we place the rakes, (besides in a lake?) At South Lakes we have adopted the rake stand system (see photo) and this has worked, because all players know there is only the one position to put the rake – back where you got it from. Players cannot move the stands as they are decreed to be immovable obstructions. The elevated rakes allow the ball to roll into the centre of the bunker, they are readily accessible and the stands are inexpensive to manufacture. Works for us! Alan Tarry, GM, South Lakes Golf Club, Goolwa, SA

More FTA...please!

Colour blind

I see that since Scotty won the Masters, there has been an increase in people playing golf. Even more would be playing if it could be shown on free to air TV. Then more people could see how such a great game this is. I can’t afford pay TV and there are many golf lovers who can’t. Use your power to pressure Government to change the media rules, please. Mike Smith

I agree with Gary Rose regarding the pace of play on the golf course (True Colours, June issue). It seems it is a common problem at all courses. However a system adopted at Queanbeyan NSW similar to Gary’s idea is a total failure. The idea at Queanbeyan is that a Blue flag on the pin indicates pin at rear of green, Yellow flag is pin in the centre, while a Red flag means pin at the front. When viewing the flag from, say, 140 meters it all depends on what is behind the green, in some cases the flag blends into the background so well it leaves you wondering if the flag is there or not. Further to that, if it is a still day and the flag is hanging limp on the pin it only adds to the mystery of where the pin is. When this system was introduced at Queanbeyan the rumour mill said it was to be used at all courses. Obviously that is not the case. It’s a shocker. Tom Jones

Cart smarts Motorised golf carts are now a permanent part of the game. “Mo-carts” have allowed many older or physically-troubled players to continue playing the game they love. At the same time, many players quite capable of walking the course are opting to ride instead of exercising. That is their choice. Unfortunately, some drivers are casual in their approach to the care and maintenance of the course, causing damage over time to areas adjacent to greens, pathways, and bunkers. All club members pay, through their fees, the costs of fixing these problems. Please, enjoy the game and the course, but DRIVE RESPONSIBLY. Norm Jones

Our Club had a policy of rakes placed in bunkers. The policy was changed to positioning the rake at 90-degrees to the bunker edge, with the head of the rake in the bunker and handle facing out a few centimetres over the edge. Under the old policy, if the rake was some distance away from the player’s ball, the player would obtain the rake, rake the footprints (hopefully), before proceeding to the ball, which slowed play. When wet, there was also the problem of the rake handle being covered in wet sand. Similarly some players were leaving the rake around the edge of the bunker, with the possibility of the ball being trapped and giving the player an unfair lie. With our new policy of rakes in bunkers, if the ball happens to strike the rake handle (unlikely in the vast majority of instances) it will run down into the bunker to give a fair lie. With the placement of the handle outside the bunker, it is much easier for players (older or with knee or back problems) to access the rake. Gil Greig I recently played at Ballina Golf Club. They have adopted a different way to store the rake by inserting a piece of PVC pipe into the ground at the back of the bunker, furthest point away from the green, thus having the rake stand vertically in the air. I found this quite ingenious and a great method to minimise the rake factor due to the fact that if you hit the rake you were never going to land on the green anyway and if it is in your way you’re close enough to take it out and lay it down. Paul Windle I have been playing golf for just on 60 years long before rakes were ever used in the bunker and we were shown by our elders how to use the back of a sand iron to repair your foot marks and the club contact with the sand maybe we should revert back to this method. Kevin Dunn

Sefton Golf Course greenkeeper, Ken Robinson came up with a very nifty solution to rake placement. Perhaps more courses could take a page from this book. (photo courtesy of Janette Lisle) We don’t have ‘bunkers’ in Australia, we have ‘sand traps’. The bunkers in UK give you a choice: Go backwards/sideways or blame yourself for your eventual score. In Australia, I don’t care if I go in a bunker, because I will get out of it somewhere closer to the hole. In the UK, I make sure I change my thought pattern to steer clear of them. It is a huge difference. On any course anywhere in Australia, if you leave a pitch mark on a green there is a consistent way to leave it repaired. There should be one rule for bunkers on all courses too. Rakes in the bunker, point the shaft of the rake at the hole, teeth down, in the middle not on the edges. How simple is that? Peter Summerton www.insidegolf.com.au | July 2013

101

last word

Larry Canning ed@insidegolf.com.au

The biff between Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia isn’t the first time two high-profile professionals have been giving each other a verbal belting on and off the course. Bubba Watson and Steve Elkington exchanged some rather unpleasant banter a few years ago when Elk allegedly kept moving just as Bubby-pooh was about to hit. The reality was, Elkinghorn and his caddy were just running to try and catch up with the big-hitting left-handed sook. Bubbs burst into a tirade of childish nonsense which forced Elky to actually speak to one of his playing partners, for the first time in his career. Speaking of catching up, it’s not exactly groundbreaking news when American Ben Crane loses a hole to the blokes in front. Crane gets around a golf course at a similar speed to me walking out of the day surgery after a colonoscopy. It is a little unusual however, when he loses a hole to his own playing partner. In the 2005 Booz Allen Classic, Crane was paired in the final round with Rory Sabbatini (Isn’t that a cool name? Sounds like he should be playing bongos for Carlos Santana). Sabbatini, who is known for his fast play and quick temper was so frustrated with his partner’s lethargy, he putted out on the 17th green and headed to the 18th tee while Crane was still pondering his barometric readings for his second shot. Rory copped an absolute smashing from the parochial fans and officials and had to make a hasty apology.

Then there was that famous long-standing stoush between Colin Montgomerie and everyone who has ever watched him play. The touchy Scot has admonished every golf fan on the planet including me once after I let one rip from a toothless orifice, right before he was about to take the club back. I thought this was a gross overreaction by the big unit, considering I was sitting in my lounge room watching him on TV. All these feuds pale into insignificance though when compared to the biff that occurred between two of the game’s greats, Greg Norman and Larry Canning during the last round of the 1984 Australian PGA Championship. I was having a good tournament which meant

I was in one of the last couple of groups for Sunday’s round and feeling a combination of “a little cocky” and “a little toey”. In reality, the only thing stopping me from being an absolute basket of twinging, uncontrollable sphincter spasms was the fact that I had narrowly missed being drawn with overnight leader and most intimidating golfer on the planet, Greg Norman. While I was jabbing a few ten-footers on the putting green, this little girl kept running in front of me. I finally stopped and told her to go and find her Dad and stay off the green. Suddenly, I heard an angry voice behind me saying, “She’s my daughter mate!” It was Greg Norman! Whenever I’m mortally threatened, I instinctively resort to bad humour as a way to cope so I fired back with “Sorry mate, can I buy her a Mars bar or maybe a private jet or something?” Shark’s eyes rolled back in his head as if he was about to bite off my right arm and I ran into the locker room and sat in the corner in a foetal position. It got worse when my group arrived at the first green and we had to wait for an official to come and give us a ruling. After 5 minutes the group behind, which consisted of Bob Shearer, Rodger Davis and Greg Norman had played onto our green and Shark was making a beeline straight towards me. Despite hiding in the gallery, he spotted yours truly, stood that close to me I could smell the fish on his breath and said “Were playing through!” I mustered all the courage I had left and replied with “Sure Greg, no worries... how’s the family?” Ah Yes...When it comes to it, this still goes down as one of the biggest controversies in the game’s history. Greg Norman has never quite recovered from that stoush. And I still can’t go near the water. •

The quick nine quiz With David Newbery 1. Which Victorian golf club hosted the Open Championship’s Australasian international final qualifying in January – Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath, Huntingdale or Moonah Links? 2. What is the cost of a daily ticket to this year’s Open Championship at Muirfield – £10, £12, £15 or £18? 3. Which Scottish golfer overcame the largest 54-hole deficit to win the 1999 Open Championship? 4. In 1933, Open champion Denny Shute took the same number of strokes in each round. What score did he have in each round? 5. What do Billy Andrade and Paul McGinley have in common at Muirfield – both have had an air swing on the first tee; both have had an ace on the same hole; married women with the same surname or missed a six-inch putt on the final hole to miss the cut? 6. Which Open Championship winners have won and lost a playoff? 7. Which Open Championship competitor has carded the most consecutive rounds under 70 – Ernie Els, Tiger Woods, Nick Faldo or Lee Trevino? 8. Which Open Championship competitor has finished runner-up or joint runner-up more than anyone else? 9. Who won the Open by the biggest margin – Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Morris Sr or Greg Norman? ANSWERS: (1). Kingston Heath; (2). £15 ($24); (3). Paul Lawrie – 10 strokes behind the leader; (4). 73-73-73-73; (5). Both have aced the seventh hole; (6). Tom Watson won in 1975 and lost in 2009 and Ernie Els won in 2002 and lost in 2004; (7). Ernie Els first round 1993 to third round 1994; (8). Jack Nicklaus in 1964, 67, 68, 72, 76, 77 and 79; (9). Tom Morris Sr by 13 strokes in 1862.

Sticks and stones and fairway woods

play golf in july and lunch is on us

$59 Monday-Wednesday or $69 Thursday and Friday 18 holes of golf including motorised cart & Lunch in the Brasserie Restaurant Lunch - Homemade Beef pie, potato mash, peas & gravy *Conditions apply

for more information contact our team on (02) 4560 3200 Corporate, Social & Competition Golf. Accommodation - Weddings - Conferences - Functions - Celebrations

102

July 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

demo dates Ping Ph: (02) 9524 8233 or visit www.ping.com Location

Day

Callaway Date

Time

New South Wales Bayview Golf Club*

Tuesday

July 02

9am - 2pm

Monash Country Club*

Wednesday

July 03

8am - 1pm

The Ridge Driving Range⁰ Wednesday July 03

4 - 7pm

Cumberland Country Club* Thursday July 04

12 - 5pm

Gosford Golf Club* Friday July 05

7 - 10am

Everglades Country Club* Friday July 05

1 - 4pm

Cabramatta Golf Club* Monday July 08

1 - 5pm

Illawarra Golf Complex⁰ Tuesday July 09

10am - 2pm

Belmont Golf Club* Wednesday July 10 9am - 3pm Killara Golf Club* Thursday July 11 8am - 12pm Narrabeen Driving Range⁰ Thursday July 11

4 - 7pm

Bankstown Golf Club* Friday July 12

10am - 3pm

Royal Sydney Golf Club* Tuesday July 16

9am - 3pm

Castle Hill Country Club* Wednesday July 17

10am - 4pm

Toronto Golf Club* Thursday July 18 12 - 5pm Waratah Golf Club* Friday July 19

11am - 3pm

Foster Tuncurry Golf Club* Tuesday July 23

9am - 3pm

Taree Golf Club* Wednesday July 24 11am - 4pm Camden Haven Golf Club* Thursday July 25

10am - 3pm

Port Macquarie Driving Range* Friday July 26

9am - 3pm

Georges River Golf Club⁰ Monday July 29

2pm - 5pm

Yass Golf Club* Tueday July 30 11am - 3pm Royal Canberra Golf Club* Wednesday July 31

10am - 2pm

Canberra Int Driving Range⁰ Wednesday July 31

4 - 7pm

Queensland Victoria Park Golf Complex*

Tuesday

July 02

5.30 - 7.30pm

Golf World Kawana *

Friday

July 05

1 - 5pm

Noosa Tewantin ⁰

Tuesday

July 09

9 - 11am

Caloundra *

Tuesday

July 09

1 - 4.30pm

Parkwood Golf Club⁰

Thursday

July 11

4 - 6.30pm

HOG Hervey Bay ⁰

Friday

July 12

12 - 4pm

Hervey Bay Golf Club ⁰

Saturday

July 13

9 - 12pm

Bunderberg Golf Club ⁰

Monday

July 15

12 - 4pm

Golf Gurus @ The Big Easy ⁰

Thursday

July 18

4 - 7pm

Drummond Underwood*

Thursday

July 25

3 - 5pm

Palm Meadows Driving Range⁰

Friday

July 26

1 - 5pm

Wednesday

July 03

10am -2pm

Victoria Royal Melbourne Golf Club*

Melbourne Golf Academy⁰ Wednesday July 03

4 - 7pm

Royal Melbourne Golf Club*

10am - 2pm

Saturday

July 06

Yarra Bend Golf Driving Range⁰ Thursday July 11

4 - 7pm

Sandringham Golf Range⁰ Wednesday July 17

5 - 7pm

Riversdale Golf Club*

Friday

July 19

9am - 3pm

HOG Ringwood*

Saturday

July 20

10am - 2pm

HOG Ringwood*

Tuesday

July 23

1 - 5pm

July 03 Drummond Golf Driving Range⁰ Wednesday

4 - 7pm

South Australia

Western Australia July 10 Sanctuary Golf Resort⁰ Wednesday

9.30am - 1pm

Busselton Golf Club⁰ Thursday July 11

9.30am - 1pm

Lakelands Country Club⁰ Wednesday July 31

9.30am - 1pm

www.callawaygolf.com

Location

Day

New South Wales Royal Sydney Golf Club ‡ ◊ ** Bexley Golf Course ‡ ◊ The Lakes Golf Club ‡ ** * Fairfield Golf Course † ‡ * New South Wales Golf Club ‡ ◊ Thornleigh Golf Centre † Liverpool Golf Club † ‡ * Golf Paradise Terrey Hills † Northern Beaches Golf Centre † Stonecutters Ridge Golf Club ‡ * Drummond Golf Gosford ‡ * Northbridge Golf Club ‡ * Killara Golf Club ‡ * Moore Park Driving Range † Cumberland Golf Course ‡ * Muirfield Golf Club ‡ * Pennant Hills Golf Club ‡ * Belmont Golf Club ‡ * Queensland Victoria Park Golf Complex † Lismore Golf Club † Parkwood International Golf Club † Big Easy Golf Driving Range Carseldine † Virginia Golf Club † Victoria / Tasmania Melbourne Golf Academy † Kingston Links Golf Course † ‡ Yering Meadows Golf Club † ‡ Royal Melbourne Golf Club † South Australia Drummond Golf Driving Range †

Mizuno Location

Date

Time

Tuesday Wednesday Friday Tuesday Wednesday Wednesday Thursday Thursday Thursday Friday Tuesday Wednesday Friday Friday Friday Saturday Tuesday Wednesday

July 02 July 03 July 05 July 09 July 10 July 10 July 11 July 11 July 11 July 12 July 16 July 17 July 19 July 19 July 19 July 20 July 30 July 31

9am - 2pm 12 - 4pm 12 - 4.30pm 12 - 4pm 9am - 2pm 4 - 7pm 9am - 1pm 12 - 3pm 4 - 7pm 12 - 4pm 2 - 5pm 1 - 4pm 8am - 12pm 4 - 7pm 2 - 6pm 12 - 4pm 9am - 1pm 10am - 2pm

Tuesday Friday Thursday Friday Friday

July 02 July 05 July 11 July 19 July 26

5.30 - 7.30pm 1 - 4.30pm 4 - 7pm 5 - 7pm 1 - 4pm

Wednesday Thursday Thursday Saturday

July 03 July 04 July 11 July 27

4 - 7pm 12 - 4pm 9am - 1pm 9am - 3pm

Wednesday

July 02

3 - 6pm

mizuno.com.au

Day

Date

Time

New South Wales Fox Hills G. C.* Thursday July 04 12 - 4pm Royal Sydney G. C.* ** Wednesday July 10 11am - 3pm Cromer G. C.* ** Thursday July 11 12 - 4pm Thornleigh G. C.* Tuesday July 16 4 - 7pm Liverpool G. C.* Thursday July 18 9am - 1pm Casula G. C.* Thursday July 18 4 - 7pm Mona Vale G. C.* Wednesday July 24 8am - 11am Camden Lakeside G. C.* Friday July 26 11am - 3pm Moore Park G. C.* Tuesday July 30 4 - 7pm Everglades G. C.* Wednesday July 31 9am - 1pm Queensland Emerald Lakes Driving Range* Wednesday July 03 2 - 5pm Victoria Park G. C. * Tuesday July 09 5.30 - 7.30pm Parkwood G. C.* Thursday July 11 4 - 6.30pm Golf Gurus Big Easy Driving Range* Thursday July 18 5 - 7.30pm Palm Meadows G. C. Friday July 26 2 - 4.30pm Western Australia Whaleback G. C.* Wednesday July 10 4 - 8pm Maylands G. C. Saturday July 20 10am - 12pm Fremantle G. C. Thursday July 25 1 - 5pm Marangaroo G. C. Saturday July 27 10am - 2pm South Australia Drummond Driving Range -West Beach Wednesday July 03 4 - 7pm Victoria Yarra Bend G. C. Thursday July 11 5 - 8pm

* Appointment Only. ** Members Only. °Ping Demo day. † Demo day. ‡ Callaway fitting day ◊ Callaway Brand day Demo dates subject to change without notice. It is recommended that you contact venue before attending.

www.insidegolf.com.au | July 2013

103

golf directory

Port Stephens Golfing Holidays Golf & Accommodation from only $70 per day 9 16 Golf courses including Horizons, Nelson Bay, Newcastle, Muree, Tanilba, Cypress Lakes, Pacific Dunes, The Vintage, by boat to Hawks Nest & others 9 Play any day & with any number of people 9 Golf & accommodation from a choice of motels, hotels, units & resorts

www.facebook.com/golfpsgh

T: 02 4984 9618 | M: 0428 820 477 | info@psgh.com.au | www.psgh.com.au

Golf Packages

Yamba Golf & Country Club features an 18 hole championship golf course, located right in the heart of Yamba.

“On Course at Duntryleague” “Rowan Cottage” is your ideal golfing destination located next door to the famous Duntryleague Guest House.

• 18 hole golf course • Fully stocked ProShop • Tuition for all ages available • Motorised cart hire • In club dining at Fairways Bistro • Function room for weddings, special occasions or conferences • Live entertainment and activities throughout the week • Courtesy bus • Open 7 days a week • Stay and Play Packages available

We look forward to welcoming you soon! River Street, Yamba NSW | Ph (02) 6646 2104 | www.yambagolf.com.au

Let us tailor your “Stay & Play Package” on Orange’s 3 Golf Courses: • Duntryleague • Wentworth Golf Club • Orange Ex-Services Country Club

Our SignaturE PackagE

$59pp per day*

• 3 days of golf (1 on each course) • 2 nights accommodation *(min 6 share 3 bedroom cottage)

Contact John on 0417 651 084 or Maureen 0417 651 005 Phone: (02) 6362 9146 • Email: rowancottage@live.com.au

www.rowancottage.com.au

play & stay package from $99* THREE COURSE SPECIAL

Only $290

Mossman, Mirage & Sea Temple Includes Carts, Fees & Transfers (Price based on 2 person share. +$30 single person supplement)

TWO COURSE SPECIAL

Only $195

Mossman & Sea Temple Includes Carts, Fees & Transfers (Price based on 2 person share. +$20 single person supplement)

MOSSMAN

Only $49

Includes Fees & Transfers

Contact John Carney - “JC” on 0438 581 269 or by email at info@portdouglasgolftours.com.au

A ROU

Clubs and other packages available on request.

(Price based on 2 person share. +$20 single person supplement)

RAD

w w w. p o r t d o u g l a s g o l f t o u r s . c o m . a u 104

July 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

For advertising call 1300 GOLF 00

golf directory

Benalla Golf Club

pp $208 From share twin eek w mid

Three Day / Two Night Golf Package Includes: Unlimited golf, two nights accommodation, breakfast each morning, 2 x evening meals (vouchers up to the value of $20) • Fully Irrigated Greens & Fairways • Full Bar & Bistro Facilities • Abundant Wildlife including Kangaroos

www.benallagolfclub.com.au (03) 5762 1920 | benagolf @bigpond.net.au

GOLFING IN VANUATU Let us design a golfing holiday to suit all your individual needs, Including: Accommodation at The Hub Boutique Apartments, centrally located, only 15 minutes from the Golf Course and conveniently close to shops and Port Vila’s great restaurants Golf Club competition days or just leisure golfing Organised transfers Activities & Day Trips to explore the South Pacific way of life

Ph: +678 5425373 E: info@thehubvanuatu.com

www.thehubvanuatu.com

Thailand Golf Holiday 20-26th October 2013

LADIES MEMBERSHIP OPEN

We have chosen the best courses to play & the best hotels to relax in at this great golfing holiday destination

No Nomination Fee (Save $440)

Ladies Competitions every Saturday from 9am till 11am and Tuesday from 8am till 9am. Friday and Sunday Open Medley Competitions. Subscription year is 1st October till 30th September. 36 Hole Club including 3 practise putting greens, 100m pitching green with bunkers, 250m driving range and fully licensed 1 level air conditioned clubhouse Nudgee Golf Club Incorporated 1207 Nudgee Road NUDGEE QLD 4014 Phone: 07 3267 7744 E-mail: golf@nudgeegolf.com.au www.nudgeegolf.com.au

Crossword Answers E X H I B I T S

R R U U M F O O R I D

A T I A N K W E R I E R P U S R A U N D O S R O S T A N D I I D A U G U S

I C L A R E K E D B H U L A G A A R I T A

S I R G N L E D C U P P L R E S D S O N

U N N I E S I M T E N T I N A E T N Y M A R C T E P T I E R I F E N C E S A L O A T D E A L M A A E R N S T N U E O T E P A D

OUTLASTS ANY OTHER GLOVE

$2495

(CSIRO tested and proven)

each

• 100% Kangaroo Premium Leather • Grips like glue in the wet • It’s like wearing a second skin • Company logos available, ideal for golf days and client gifts • Available in left of right hand, sizes XXXS - XXXL • Black or white

+P&H

$3495 +P&H pair

GIFT PACKS AVAILABLE

P: (07) 4128 8148 | www.kakadugolfglove.com

For advertising call 1300 GOLF 00

www.insidegolf.com.au | July 2013

105

golf directory BANKSTOW N G OL F C LU B

MEMBERSHIPS NOW OPEN New Sunday/Public holiday memberships only $1220, great value. Only $23.50 per week, competition fees only $6, pay by the month plans available.

MERIMBULA ★★★★

Luxury AccommodAtion opposite pAmbuLA-merimbuLA GoLf cLub

"Only 60 metres from the 1st tee"

1-7 Oceanview Ave, Merimbula NSW P: M: E: W:

02 6495 2366 0437 801 270 info@pacificheights.com.au www.pacificheights.com.au

180 Arthur Kaine Drive Merimbula

Twin share

per person 3 nights

• Green fees at Pambula/Merimbula, Tura, Eden & Bega Courses • Self contained accommodation • Breakfast to room • Free usage of Resort facilities • Dinner charge back facilities available at Pambula/Merimbula Golf Club's Restaurant or Wheeler's Seafood Restaurant next door

ph: debbie/peter on (02) 6495 6000 or fax 02) 6495 1411

•All golf courses within 20 minute drive •Heated year round pool •Free BBQ area •500m walk to restaurants •FSC Apartments & Munn Tower House •Sensational views of Village, Lake & Ocean

Great Golf Packages

LET US QUOTE YOUR OWN PACKAGE 4 NIGHTS ACCOM. 5 NIGHTS ACCOM. 3 Rounds of golf + Carts Breakfast each day

$455 P/P Twin Share Conditions apply

4 Rounds of golf + Carts Breakfast each day

FROM

Mike McGuire & Yumi Yoshida

www.fairwaymotorinn.com.au

FROM

Sapphire Coast Merimbula

$380

$135

Now fully refurbished “stay and play in style and comfort.”

South CoaSt touriSm award for the best moteL

Spectacular

from

per person per night

Phone (02) 9773 0628 Enquiries: info@bankstowngolf.com.au

›› Hole Out

Play & Stay Packages

$525 P/P Twin Share Conditions apply

Pambula Merimbula GC • Eden Gardens GC • Bega Country Club • Tura Beach Country Club

Clearwater Noosa

PORT FAIRY Stay & Play Packages Don’t miss the opportunity to play on two of the Top 100 Public Access Golf Courses in Australia! Package includes:  2 nights accommodation in Port Fairy  Properties available to accommodate up to 8-10 individuals  Ensuites, Gas Log Fires, Ocean or River Views, AUSTAR...& more  Green Fees on 2 golf courses (Port Fairy & Warrnambool)

from

$125

per person per night*

* available at selected properties participating on our website Stay & Play link

www.portfairyaccom.com.au Shop 2/54 Sackville Street Port Fairy VIC 3284 03 5568 3150 accommodation@hearns.com.au

Play & Stay for $120

fro m

ips

bersh em

$220 va

Package includes: • 2 games of golf • Meal • 1 night accommodation with continental breakfast

ila ble *Conditions apply

Casino Golf Club - West St, Casino NSW 2470 P: (02) 6662 1259 | E: admin@casinogolfclub.com.au

www.casinogolfclub.com.au

106

July 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

For advertising call 1300 GOLF 00

golf directory

Cobram-Barooga Golf View Motel

“you give up things when you buy a Kahma Golf Bag” • clanging clubs • damaged irons • worn graphite shafts • frustration finding the right iron

2 Day MiD Week Package

Patented Softgrip Technology

On cOurse accOMMODatiOn & incluDes:

• 2 Nights in Spacious Spa Room • 2 Rounds of Golf @ Cobram Barooga with Cart included (valid to 29th Aug 2013) • Continental Breakfast each morning (cooked upgrade $8pp per day) • Meal Vouchers for the Sports Club

$215pp TWIN Share

We specialise in Group Bookings Let us organise your next Golfing Getaway Stay with the people who know

From the inventors of the Caddyrack

GET ORGANISED WITH

INCLUDeS CarT

179 Golf Course Road Barooga only valid to 2 9/8/13 Barooga, NSW Australia, 3644 Phone (03) 5873 4555 or Fax +61 5873 4556 www.baroogagolfview.com.au | info@baroogagolfview.com.au

www.kahmagolf.com Let us organise your Gold Coast golf tours Hassle Free

Play & Stay Packages t Twin Share Accommodation t Continental Breakfast t 18 holes golf t Two Course Dinner t Twin Share electric cart hire

1300 738 557

TOURS TO SUIT EVERY NE

r p131 er so n

pe Under New Management

Let us organise your golf packages including airport & course transfers. Individual/ groups & nonplaying partners catered for.

Co nd itio ns a

pp ly

and enquires call Packages designed to Bookings Pacific Palms Motel suit individual needs (02) 6680 2222

www.oceanshorescc.com.au

www.pacificpalmsmotel.com

Orana Rd, Ocean Shores NSW Ph (02) 6680 1008 Fx (02) 6680 1721

ppalms@bigpond.net.au Ph (02) 6680 2222 Fx (02) 6680 2018

1300 26 20 55 | www.golfaccom.com.au info@golfaccom.com.au

Only 30 minutes South of Coolangatta and 15 minutes North of Byron Bay

Aquarius R

MAGIC MERIMBULA This is the most popular package on the Sapphire Coast, it gets booked out early - don't miss out

• 4 days golf playing at the beautiful Sapphire Coast courses of Pambula/ Merimbula, Tathra Beach, Eden, Bega, and Tura Beach. All courses are only 5 to 20 mins drive from the Resort. • 6 nights accommodation in a 2 & 3 bedroom fully self contained apartment (linen supplied). • 6 FREE fully cooked poolside breakfasts, buffet style.

Packages starting from:

• Free use of resort facilities, indoor gas heated pool, sauna & spa, full size tennis court, BBQ area and outdoor pool. • Large Groups Welcome

Phone Toll Free 1800 688 881 Ring toll free for free brochure

For advertising call 1300 GOLF 00

$489*pp / 2 Share $399*pp / 3 Share $379*pp / 4 Share *Conditions apply

aquariusresort@netspeed.com.au Crn Dunns Lane & Arthur Kaine Drv, MERIMBULA NSW www.aquarius-resort.com.au www.insidegolf.com.au | July 2013

107

golf directory

Play anytime - No waiting

BEERWAH GOLF CLUB

Howeston Golf Course Enquiries welcome

16 Weekdays

20 Weekends & Public Holidays *

100A Creek Road, Birkdale, Qld | Phone (07) 3207-2452

At the base of the beautiful Glasshouse Mountains…

*prices include GST

Established 1972 • Full length 27-hole course • Excellent greens • Professional tuition available • Clubs for hire • Open seven days - BYO • Electric golf carts available

• Timeless Tuesday - Unlimited* Golf for ONLY $25 • Golf Equipment for Hire & Sale • Fully Licensed Clubhouse • Social Clubs & Corporate Days

Visitors pay only $22 to play in our competitions (Wed, Sat & Sun)

AffordAble MeMbership fees AvAilAble

Biondi Crescent, Beerwah admin@beerwahgolfclub.com.au www.beerwahgolfclub.com.au

Ph: (07) 5494 0630 Golf Shop (07) 5494 6611

*WINTER SPECIAL* • 3 Games Golf • 3 x $20 Dinner Vouchers • 3 Cooked Breakfasts • 3 Nights Accomodation (twin share) • Total Cost per person $300 (Arriving Sunday, Monday or Tuesday)

Contact michael@murrayrivergolf.com.au or visit our website

www.cessnockhotel.com.au 108

July 2013 | www.insidegolf.com.au

www.murrayrivergolf.com.au

For advertising call 1300 GOLF 00

T W C E N DU O R P

Over 30,000 Courses preloaded with Hazard and Green information Faster GPS with 67 Channel GPS receiver and 0.5m accuracy Easy to use Shot Distance calculator Tee Time Alarm, Odometer, Stopwatch, Location, and GPS Auto-Off New Adjustable Silicone Sports strap designed for comfort Amazing 12 Hour Battery with GPS, 12 Months battery without GPS

E TL

Stainless Steel buttons and Bezel Legal for tournament play Sealed Waterproof housing, and scratch resistant true mineral crystal lens No Subscription Required

Also available in Black

OU T T EC E A L SE NLIN m T A P O n.co E i BL SHO on-p A IL OR ww. A w AV

Wide range of golf Cars, resort Vehicles, refreshers Shuttles, & Utility Vehicles major brands

Club Car badboy

E-Z-Go Yamaha Cushman

L A N O NAKTUIP SERVICE

BAC

Quality

used Golf Cars

all OF OUr CarS haVe a limited Warranty

hUge priCe range tO SUit any bUdget

We prOVide UpgradeS COnVerSiOnS reFUrbiShmentS

View our Used Cars & Monthly Specials @

www.ezgo.com.au/used-cars For more information or to locate a dealer visit WWW.EZGO.COM.AU QLD (07) 3807 8895 NSW/ACT (02) 9972 7705 WA (08) 9244 1727 SA (08) 8352 6622

VIC (03) 9558 1211 TAS (03) 6248 1481 NT (08) 8946 4480 Fiji (+679) 670 0955

GOLF FACTORY PENRITH 269 High St, Penrith (near Officeworks) (02) 4722 8640 - Mail Order - 6 Days penrith_golf@iprimus.com.au

ACCOUNTS AVAILABLE TO GOLF CLUBS

TaylorMade RBZ Irons

Individually boxed $180 for 144 balls

$89

$15

each

SRIXON ALL WEATHER GLOVES Mens Left or Right White or Black Mens - S, M, ML, L, XL Ladies - S, M, L

5 FOR

$45

dozen

Eagles & Birdies Cypress Point bag 14 Full length dividers Magnetic pockets Cooler pocket Lots of colours

INC. POSTAGE ANYWHERE IN AUST

Cleveland CG16 Wedges

SAVE$60

$199

SAVE $50

$79

3 piece ball Long and soft 3 piece quality $168 for 144 Individually boxed

½ PRICE!

$14

per dozen

OPTIMA Ball Sale

Doz

Titleist Balls and Beanies

TS+ Green box or TS Tour Gold box Individually boxed

$450 $390 $490

$419

Easy to use irons

TopFlite Gamer V2

$18

Mens or Ladies Soft Feel 144 Balls for $216

5-Sand Iron Right hand only

$672

Forged & Soft feel Right and left Lob, Sand, Gap and Pitching wedges

Individually boxed balls

TaylorMade Burner OS Irons

8 irons 4-SW Matching Regular Flex Steel shafts Right and left hand

Cleveland 588 Forged Wedges

Srixon Soft Feel Ball Sale

$20 $50

Ladies Graphite Regular Mens Steel Regular or Stiff Mens Graphite Regular

(02) 4647 8542 - Mail Order - 6 Days

Callaway Warbird Plus Balls

Regular or Seniors Graphite Shafts 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, pitching & sand wedges

Ladies Right hand 56º Sand Graphite Shaft

Narellan Supa Centre, Narellan Rd

Visa, Mastercard and American Express accepted $7 NSW, $9 VIC & QLD, $10 SA, TAS, NT & WA Postage and handling any quantity.

Cleveland Hybrid Iron 588 Altitude

Men’s Right hand 64º Flop

GOLF FACTORY NARELLAN

$35

$20

ProV1 and ProV1x (2013) NXT Tour and NXT Tour-S Velocity and DT Solo ProV1 and ProV1x (superseded)

dozen

Srixon Z-Star Balls

Srixon Distance Balls Distance ball with great feel Great for ball competitions Bulk Qty

$156

½ PRICE

$25

144 balls ($13/dozen) Individually boxed

SAVE$100

$165

Includes cover doz

Srixon Q Star Balls

Callaway HX Diablo Balls

Pure white or Tour Yellow $216 for 144 Individually boxed

Soft Feel with distance Individually boxed 144 balls - $240

SAVE $30

$20

$49

Srixon AD333 Balls

$14

dozen

doz

TaylorMade R1 Driver

Great for ball comps Distance and control $168 for 144 balls Individually boxed

Heaps to choose from Very successful model

Z-Star, XV, X & SL Models White and Yellow (not all colours available)

Cleveland Hybrid 5 = 24º Loft 4 = 21º Loft Men’s right hand Regular flex Graphite only Includes cover Offset = Anti-slice

TaylorMade RBZ Fairway

Urethane cover 3 Piece Tour Quality ball

TaylorMade XD balls

Fully adjustable Latest model

SAVE $Plenty

Includes cover & wrench

$369 $168

Great for golf ball competitions Bulk qty 144 balls ($14 a doz) Individually boxed

Doz

Distance ball with great feel